Chapter Twenty-nine

A fter a revealing yet disappointing trip to the treasury, Liana and Damien returned to the library to find everyone far more invigorated. They had a map of Triaedian hanging on the back wall and were dotting areas with red ink.

Her hand clasped in Damien's because it kept her calm for now, Liana walked up to the commotion. They waited until everyone added their marks and were left with a dotted map.

"I'm assuming those are all Ranville properties," Damien said.

"They are. It seems Liana's hunch was correct," Raphael explained. "Most of these properties were purchased before a major attack. They vary from farms, storage buildings, brothels, inns, and eateries. Excellent covers to hide a large influx of people."

Liana noted the concentration of marks near larger cities. Some in more remote areas as well. She walked closer, letting go of Damien.

"What property do they own in Sancta Valles?"

Owen took over listing out the properties. "Their main residence, gifted to them at the creation of the city. A vineyard, two miles east, bought three years prior to an attack. A brothel in the southwest corner, acquired four years prior to an attack. An apothecary in the northwest, two years prior. An old mining factory to the southeast, three years prior. And in a village just north of Sancta Valles, they bought an inn five years ago."

Dread curled in her stomach when she inspected the factory in the southeast. "What is the address of this factory?" Her voice cracked. She already knew. Damien's hands rested on her shoulders in support.

"It's beside the homeless mage sanctuary," Damien said.

Liana fisted her hands at her side and locked her knees to keep them from buckling. They never stood a chance. Liana doomed them from the very beginning. Forcing herself to keep moving, to not dwell on their deaths, she looked to Sapphire Cove.

"What about these?" she asked, pointing to the map.

Owen read them out again.

Liana took the mage pen spelled with red ink and put an X in the bay. "Ranville owns a small fleet of vessels for fishing and international trade too. My uncle has a similar fleet as well, which he often made a point to mention only to say that his was larger." With that pen, she drew a line connecting all the properties around Sapphire Cove then all of the ones around Sancta Valles.

"We are being surrounded," she declared with absolute certainty.

The room went deadly silent while they all stared at the incriminating map.

"They've been planning this from the very beginning," Damien exclaimed on a wary breath.

Eva came forward to point out the other fifteen or so properties. "What about these then? What do these mean?"

"Hide outs. Safe houses. Maybe they're truly businesses to fund the rebels. What matters is that we have a new threat to deal with," Raphael explained.

Liana pointed to the northernmost location. "That was where Ranville took me. The first castle is close to there. That's where the dagger was."

Many confused looks were aimed her way. She forgot that most people in this room had no idea what happened to her when Ranville captured her.

Damien poked the map. "What was the date this one was purchased?"

"Fifty years ago," Owen answered.

Liana felt her nerves rise. "Ranville said they found the castle but could never get the dagger out. They didn't understand why until they felt my power years later."

"I'm not following," her father interjected.

Liana ignored him, her mind reaching for something, desperate to connect the dots. "There is something here. There is something I'm not seeing. Something incredibly important." She shoved away from Damien to pace, pushing her fingers into her temple in an attempt to focus her thoughts.

"You captured Ranville though. If he is their leader, would they still attempt something?" an unfamiliar voice asked.

"He might have just been one of their leaders. There is bound to be another or at least a contingency plan," Asher explained.

Liana replayed her conversations with Ranville during her kidnapping. The dagger, the blood of the Original, the first Triaedian. Those words just kept rolling around in her head despite her plea to remember anything else.

Stopping, her mind halted on blood of the Original. "The cave. Luna's Cave." She found the strip of beach where she and her friends used to play, the place where she blew a hole in the cliffs. She poked a hole right through the map where the cave would be. "That's where we need to go. There will be answers there. That is where the first gods-blessed mage was killed. It's his tomb."

Liana turned to face a room full of disbelief and confusion.

Her father was the first to demand answers. "Liana, explain yourself. What castle? What dagger? Who's tomb? And what do you mean by the first gods-blessed mage? Who else is blessed?"

Liana cringed, thinking of all the things she'd kept a secret from her family and everyone else.

"Those are things that should be discussed privately," Damien started. "We sincerely thank all of you for your help and of course, we expect your discretion on this matter. Family, we shall reconvene in my office."

Raphael and Owen took down the map to roll it up for transport.

Damien led the way while the soldiers stayed behind. He grabbed Asher and Owen. "Go get Luciano and Kinley." While Asher disappeared, Liana helped Raphael unroll the map on top of the round table in Damien's office which already held the Council's map.

Her father wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Are you okay, Liana? Truly?"

She leaned into him with a heavy sigh. "I'll be fine, Father."

"What did Ranville do to you? Charlotte won't say much about herself, but she won't say a single thing about you."

Her brows furrowed. Something about the way he said that had Liana worrying. Should Charlotte be saying anything about her? What could her sister know?

"He abducted me, made me retrieve a weapon. That was all, I promise."

Michael heaved out a relieved sigh. "I'm glad that is all. But I am also very glad your husband is who he is."

"Why is that?" she asked, too tired to think.

"Because I know Ranville will be suffering for a long time for what he's done to my daughters." He patted her shoulder then shuffled a step away.

Damien stood on her other side and took her hand once more while the rest of their family arrived. Raphael, Eva, her father, Asher, Owen, Luciano and Kinley were the final count.

"Why have I been summoned after I was promised a day of sleep?" Luciano complained, then looked at the new map. His familiar blue eyes speared her. "What have you done now, Liana?"

She scoffed. "Why do you assume I had anything to do with this?"

He raised a brow, so similar to Damien. "This incriminating map is not something I've seen before, which means you've been busy."

"Alright, Grandfather," Damien interjected. "Liana did discover some remarkable things. Things that we've been missing. We've got new information on Ranville, and we also need to discuss some things with all of you," Damien started. He first filled in Luciano and Kinley on what they discovered in the library.

Then it was Liana's turn to reveal her truths. Only Damien and Luciano knew everything. She told them about meeting the goddess, that she is blessed by Juno's magic. About the first Triaedian, the castle, and the dagger. Luciano and Raphael nearly went feral when they learned of the hidden pages within the Book of Kings .

"Did they plan to use the dagger on you?" Luciano questioned.

"I believe it was more of a threat," Liana answered. "A way to control me. It is the only weapon, aside from the Original's blood, that can get through my shields. They'd be able to kill all of you. Thankfully, I escaped with the dagger."

"Where does that leave us? What do we do now?" Asher asked.

"I think we need to go to Sapphire Cove. That tomb might hold some answers. If the body is as well preserved as Ranville said, maybe there is something I can glean from his power."

"I think you also need to talk with your sister," Michael suggested. "She has been traumatized and I curse that man to eternal damnation, but she has answers."

Liana wrapped her arms around herself. "She doesn't want to see me."

"Charlotte needs you," her father insisted. "You're the only one that can even remotely relate to her."

She shook her head. "That isn't true at all."

Damien cut her off. "Isn't it though?" In her mind he said, "What did his father do to you as a child?"

Liana shivered at the reminder, those memories seeming so distant now in light of all that happened, that she nearly forgot.

"Confide in her and perhaps she will do the same," he advised aloud.

"I'll try. In the meantime, you can coordinate our trip to Sapphire Cove."

"Liana, no," Damien denied instantly.

Planting her hands on her hips she stared at him with a raised brow.

"You were just abducted. I've only had you back for a day. You are not putting yourself at risk again."

Sighing, she dropped her arms. Grabbing his hand, she tugged him toward the door. "Get the plans ready," she told the others, dragging her husband into the hall. She erected a privacy shield around them and took both his hands in hers. "Damien, I understand. Truly, I do not want to cause you any excess worry over my safety. You may be the King of Triaedian, but I am the one destined to save this kingdom. I have no idea how, or why Juno chose me. All I know is that this is my home too, this is my fight too. You have to stop trying to keep me out of it."

He squeezed her hands. "We've been over this, Liana. There will never come a time that I will not try to protect you. And although the rational part of me understands that you are not a docile, defenseless creature, the vampiric, instinctual part of me fights to burn the world so it can never pose a threat to you."

She pulled him into a hug, her magic so content when they were in his arms. "I know this is difficult for you. I wish I could just use magic to make it easier for you. That's not possible though without interfering with who you are. Nor is it possible for me to stay behind without burying an integral part of myself. I don't know how to make this better, Damien."

He brushed a hand up and down her back. "There is nothing to do. There is only dealing with this together. And for the record, I wouldn't change a thing about you." Tipping her chin up, he placed a gentle kiss upon her lips. "I will always try to protect you, my love, at least let me think I am capable of doing so."

Chuckling, she tugged him along toward the stairs. "You are more than capable, my King." Glancing over her shoulder she smirked at him. "And for the record, I wouldn't change anything about you either."

***

Damien escorted Liana to Charlotte's room before leaving the sisters to talk. He promised to finalize a travel plan to Sapphire Cove in the meantime.

Liana took a deep breath then knocked. Francis, Charlotte's maid answered. After a curtsy, the maid gestured for her to enter.

"Is there anything I can get you, Your Majesty?" she asked. The woman was older and had been with their family since they were children, like Phillipa.

"No, thank you, Francis. I would like to see my sister is all." Liana already walked toward the double doors leading into the bedroom. Francis made herself scarce, allowing the sisters privacy.

Liana pushed the ajar door, peeking into the darkened room. Charlotte lay curled on her side beneath heavy blankets, a fire roaring in the hearth which was keeping the room overly warm. It wasn't quite cold enough yet to warrant the closed windows and blaze.

"Charlotte?" Liana whispered, tiptoeing toward the side of the bed.

Charlotte blinked at her, already awake. "Liana, what are you doing here?" she asked, her voice rough and scratchy. If there were any light in the room, Liana bet she would have found her sister's eyes ringed in red.

"I came to see you." Liana sat on the side of the bed. "How are you feeling?" It felt like such a stupid question to ask. She knew things were not well. Nerves and discomfort got the better of her though. Liana didn't know how to deal with sorrow. Nor did she know how to deal with her own guilt and suffering. How would she help someone else?

"Fine." Charlotte's reply was weak.

Liana looked into the darkness, unable to confront her sister's lies. If it were her lying there, she would want to be alone. She'd want to disappear from the world, escape into the forest and practice magic. There was nothing she could say to make this any better.

So instead, she kicked off her shoes and lied down facing her sister. Taking her hand between her own, they simply sat in silence. This close, Liana saw the tears staining the pillow. Saw the broken woman she'd become. Liana was so used to her sister being the strongest, the most composed and proper female in existence. She was everything Liana was not, yet here they both lay, a mirror of one another. Broken by the Ranville family, betrayed by the gods and left to suffer.

"I'm sorry," Liana whispered.

Charlotte squeezed her eyes shut. "Don't say that."

Liana shook her head. "This is all my fault. He used you to get to me." Tears blurred her own vision. "I saw the change in you. I didn't make time for you because I was so wrapped up in Damien and our wedding."

Charlotte's body jerked on a sob before she pulled Liana into a crushing hug. Neither could speak over her sobs. Liana just rubbed circles in her back like Phillipa and Damien so often did to calm her down. Heart breaking, she let a few of her own tears fall.

The fire had died down, the room finally cooling off by the time they'd calmed down. Charlotte rested her head on Liana's chest while she ran her fingers through her sister's blonde curls.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," Charlotte declared, her voice stronger. She sounded almost like herself again.

"You may think that…" Liana started to argue, but Charlotte cut her off.

"No, Liana. It is me that should be apologizing to you. It is our entire family that should be apologizing to you."

Liana's hand paused at the vehemence in her tone. "What are you talking about, Charlotte?"

She hugged Liana's waist tighter. "I remember everything that happened in the last month. I remember everything he said."

Liana hated that her sister had to endure this. But it was also helpful that she remembered.

"Liana, he was such a vile man. He put up such a great facade. Everyone was fooled by him."

"We were. He played us all."

Charlotte hiccupped then sniffled. "I'm so sorry."

Liana shushed her. "There is nothing for you…"

"I know what happened to you, Liana," Charlotte interrupted, which had her freezing again.

"Wh..what do you mean?" she stuttered.

"Frank's father."

That was all Charlotte had to say and Liana knew. She shoved out her sister's arms to sit on the side of the bed as the memories blurred through her mind. This was exactly the thing she was going to use to relate to Charlotte, to get her to open up about her own abduction. Yet, fear and shame plagued her.

"Liana, I'm so sorry." Charlotte's hand landed on her shoulder, but she ducked away from her.

Pacing beside the bed, she focused on picking at her nails. "It happened so long ago. I didn't remember until just recently, and still, it doesn't even feel real. It feels like someone else's memories."

Charlotte climbed out of bed, the sleeveless sleeping gown revealing how thin she'd gotten. "You were so young; I suppose that is to be expected. I cannot express how sorry I am that we never helped you."

"You have nothing to be sorry for. It was Ranville that kidnapped me, that locked me in a cage." Liana cut herself off, the bars of that cell feeling like they were closing around her once more. She hurried to the curtains and threw them open, sunlight pouring in.

Charlotte shied away from the light. "Just as it is not your fault that Frank got to me now. But, Liana, we all knew something was wrong. We saw the change in you."

Liana shrugged. "It's done now."

"No. We all failed you. Mother and Father said you were maturing, growing out of childish behavior." She shook her head, swiping at another tear. "We were both so young when I saw it even though I don't remember the specifics. I'd be so jealous of how happy and bright you always were. I just remember you as this tiny little sun bouncing around the house. I hated that Mother and Father doted on you like their perfect daughter. Then your shine just disappeared after we thought you'd been lost in the forest for days. Then you were so reserved and private as we grew up. I was just happy you weren't the favorite anymore, which was so incredibly selfish and ridiculous."

"Nobody knew, Charlotte. I didn't even know. My memories were hidden from me on purpose. I couldn't have confided in you even if I wanted to."

She nodded, but still swiped at her tears. "I should have stood by you. I should have been a better sister. I let them talk about you. I let them gossip and spread awful rumors."

Liana pulled her sister into a hug. "Do not dwell on any of this, please. We all did our best to survive in this world." For the first time in years, Liana felt her chest loosen from the truth in her own words. She had been a bit odd growing up, but that was how she had to be in order to protect herself.

"We both have regrets. Please, let us move past this. We are safe. We are together and the Ranville's will no longer plague this family."

Liana felt Charlotte nod against her shoulder then pull back. "There is a lot I have to tell you," she warned, wiping more tears. "I…I'm sorry I couldn't speak to you before. I didn't know how… I didn't know how to start, then it all just felt so incomprehensible. I just wanted to pretend it all didn't happen."

"Stop apologizing, Charlotte." If this was how Damien felt when she acted the same, she'd try harder in the future to not take on so much of the blame. "What do you have to tell me?"

Charlotte gripped her hands. "The Ranville's have been planning since the beginning of Triaedian to take the crown. They've surrounded Sancta Valles and Sapphire Cove. The separatists are going to attack on the Fall Festival."

Liana shoved her magic down at the threat of an attack. None of it was new information surprisingly, but it would have been incredibly helpful to know yesterday before Liana spent the entire night researching. "That is immensely helpful. And I doubt the rebels will be much of a threat without their leader."

"There is more." Her voice trembled. "They kept talking about a 'him', like a leader."

Liana bit her lip. "Do you mean Frank?"

"No. Frank referenced him to. They never said his name, but they acted like he was a god. They always said He wanted this or that. Or He demanded this and that. I think this someone else is their leader, not Frank."

Dread curled in her stomach. That wasn't what she wanted to hear. "Tell me everything you remember about him."

"I truly don't know much. Nobody does except for Frank, I think. He didn't talk much about Him. They never said a name, only that he was in Sapphire Cove."

Her heart skipped a beat. She knew she was right to want to go there. "That's great information, thank you." She gently guided Charlotte toward the bathing chamber. "Why don't I draw you up a hot bath then we can have afternoon tea in the garden? I know Hannah and Mother would love to see you."

"I suppose I've hidden long enough."

Liana gave her sister another hug. "I still hide sometimes. Especially from Mother." The sisters laughed together. Neither of them would ever be the same little girls from years ago, although Liana thought that wouldn't be such a bad thing anymore.