Chapter 126

“Get away from her!” Nicholas shouted, his voice raw and rough in his half-shifted state. He gripped Jane with his claw-shaped hands and threw her behind him. Julian ducked as she flew by. She smashed onto the cage along the opposite wall and fell down to the ground.

Nicholas immediately stepped into the space she vacated. He lifted his hand to my neck and gently prodded at my skin. He was tender, even before his hands returned to human-shaped.

“Am I hurt?” I was in shock. I genuinely didn’t know.

“A scratch,” he replied with a small grow. “But it didn’t break the skin.”

I nodded, understanding that was good, even as my body was turning cold all over.

“We have to go, Nick,” Julian said quickly as he came to our side. He glanced me over from head to toe, before his gaze settled on my neck. He narrowed his eyes. “She did that to you?”

Nicholas wrapped one arm protectively around my waist. With the other, he shoved Julian toward the tunnels.

“We have to go, remember?” Nicholas said.

Together, the three of us escaped into the darkness. We walked as quickly as we could go without stumbling. Julian held the flashlight far in front of us so we could see our exit.

When we pushed through the other side, the guards stiffened. They didn’t relax even as it became clear it was us.

“You were right, Nicholas,” Julian said. “We need to brick this up immediately.”

Nicholas turned toward the waiting guard. Call the bricklayer. I want this whole thing sealed off. Get some wood and nails first. We’ll seal it as best we can while we wait.”

“Yes, sir!” the guard said. He turned and sprinted from the small room.

Nicholas led me to the wall, and I slumped against it, trying to compose myself. I was having trouble processing all I had seen and heard and felt.

The shattered pieces of my heart felt irreparable, like a broken windshield too chaotic to put back together.

“It’s obvious our dear uncle is deeper in this than we previously suspected,” Julian said. He dusted off his pant legs with obvious distain. “As is Piper’s sister.”

Nicholas didn’t say anything but he nodded.

I watched them both, unable to do more than that.

“Who knows how deeply this truly goes. Is Mom involved? Is Dad?” Julian continued.

“They’ve been funding the effort to stop the organization,” Nicholas said.

Julian rubbed his forehead. “Maybe it’s just a front. Maybe that’s why they put me in charge of the investigation. Let the screw-up busy himself for a while.”

“Julian…” I mumbled. I couldn’t truly find my voice, but I didn’t like him speaking of himself that way.

“Sorry, Piper.” He cast me a brief, sympathetic glance.

“They can’t be involved,” Nicholas said. “Because if they are, we are in way worse trouble.”

“So your argument is wishful thinking?” Julian asked.

Nicholas shrugged. “Until we find some proof otherwise, then yes.”

Julian fell silent. None of us moved much, beyond watching the mouth of the tunnel. Soon, the guard returned with two servants in tow, carrying wood and hammers.

“I don’t care what you have to do. I don’t care how much of an eyesore it is.” Nicholas waved toward the tunnel. “Seal this up.”

“Yes, sir,” the servants said in unison.

“The bricklayer has been notified,” the guard added. “He said he is gathering his supplies and will drive to the palace at once.”

“Good,” Nicholas said. “The minute he arrives, bring him down here. And in the meantime, send for more guards. I want three guards in this room day and night. No more secrecy, or stakeouts, or anything else. Nothing is to come through this opening, is that clear?”

The guard snapped to attention. “Yes, sir.”

Silently, we watched the servants work as the boarded up the opening of the tunnel. I still didn’t feel safe until the entire thing was sealed away and the three guards were standing watch.

Eventually, Nicholas returned to my side. “Let me take you back to your room.”

“But my sister –”

“Is safely on the other side of that door. Come on.” He spoke slowly and calmly. He must have seen me trembling. “You’ll feel better when you are at Elva’s side. Mark just checked on her, she is safely sleeping.”

Some relief washed through me. It wasn’t enough to totally quiet the anxiety that had taken root, but it did help smooth the edge a bit.

Nodding, I looped my arm with Nicholas and he began leading me from the room.

At the door, Julian touched my shoulder. “Goodnight, Piper.”

“Goodnight,” I said, though there was nothing good about it. And I doubted I would sleep. None of that was Julian’s fault.

Nicholas slowly walked me away. We didn’t say a word, but I found strength in his steady comfort. He was always so sturdy and strong, so dependable. I know I could count on him in any situation.

Even this.

His closeness gave me the strength I needed to finally give voice to heartbreak that plagued me.

“It hurts so much.” I blinked and tears fell down my cheeks. I hadn’t even felt them well.

Nicholas stopped in the hallway. He faced me as much as he could without releasing my arm. I gripped fiercely at his sleeve, my only anchor in this hurricane of torment.

“Jane was always the rebel. The troublemaker. She acted out against authority, and never listened to anyone.” I sniffled. “But even with all that, I never would have thought that she’d…”

Nicholas inched closer. Finally I released his arm and he wrapped both around me. I buried my face in his chest and released a terrible sob.

“She hates me, Nick. Maybe she always did.” The tears left hot tracks on my face. I couldn’t stop them. I didn’t even know how.

Even in my darkest moments, I’d always believed that someday Jane would find her way back to me and Elva. I was her twin and Elva was her child. How could she just throw us away like we meant nothing at all?

“I wished the best for her. I’d hoped she would come back.”

I gripped at Nick’s shirt with both hands. I ruined it with my tears. He didn’t seem to care, he just kept holding me.

“What am I supposed to do now? What should I hope for? My own sister wants to torture me.”

It was too much. My heart was aching, tearing in my chest. Anguish.

I had not cried this hard since I had to leave Nicholas. And even then, I’d felt like I had saved him. There had been anguish and tears, but it had come with the belief that Nicholas would live a good life.

What hope did Jane have for happiness? Could she only feel joy when witnessing my utter destruction?

“I can’t give her what she wants this time,” I cried. Because what she wanted was my demise. My torture. Maybe even my death.

She’d held that knife to my throat like she had been ready to use it. She’d left a mark on my neck.

I wanted to mourn the girl my sister used to be, but maybe this vicious, vile woman was always my sister. Maybe I started kidding myself at even a young age.

“Nick…”

He softly combed his fingers through my hair. “I won’t lie to you and say it will be alright. It won’t.” He swallowed hard. “But I will be with you, Piper, through every step of your grief.”

“She isn’t dead,” I sniffed.

He didn’t reply.

No, I knew what he meant.

The sister who had been my shadow. She was gone. She wasn’t coming back.

And it was time to mourn her.

Nicholas shielded me from the rest of the world, and I cried until I couldn’t cry anymore.