24. Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Four

Natasya

I 'm not sure if this was a good idea, but it's too late to turn back now.

I turn in a small circle as I take in the empty hall. So, this was the place where Evengi grew up? It's a beautiful manor with vast expanses and intricate stone carvings and woodwork. His family was obviously very powerful and wealthy.

And all dead now.

I may not be able to see ghosts the same way Evengi can, but I can sense something haunting him.

He strides down the center of the hallway, his head tilted at an odd angle as if he is looking into another world. Although I have no idea if this world is the spirit realm or the past.

"My sister's name was Alya," he says his voice heavy. "She was four years younger than me. I was her older brother. I should have protected her. My mother… my father," his voice chokes off.

"My father has long suspected the crown prince of being behind the assassination," I say stepping toward a suite of armor standing on display in an alcove. I wipe my finger across the dark wood stand and study the white dust staining my fingertip. I look over to him. "The crown prince may seem unreachable, but my father can make him pay. He will make him pay if that is what you want."

He stares ahead of him, but his eyes are distant. I doubt he is seeing anything. I wonder if he even heard me. "Their ghosts never came to find me. Do you think that they are at peace?"

"If they weren't, you would have seen them and then helped them," I assure him. "But since you have not seen their ghosts that means they are in Skyhold."

He doesn't reply. Just stands there clenching and unclenching his fist, a muscle in his jaw twitches slightly.

"Ivan?" I whisper.

"Ivan Fyodorov died with his family," he says at last. "Only Evengi remains."

"For what it's worth, I like Evengi Ichabod just fine."

He presses his eyes shut, but a tear slips down past his cheek.

"Oh Evengi…" I say. I step toward him, wrapping my arms around him from behind, pressing my cheek against his shoulder. I hold him tight as if with my arms alone I can keep him from shattering to a million pieces.

I know that it won't work though. I've been orphaned before, and that loss was a man I hated.

How much more would it hurt to lose the family that I have now? One that I love more than my own life? My father? My mother? My sisters? It would destroy me.

And I know that it is destroying Evengi now.

He lets out a ragged sob.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," I repeat over and over as he cries. I know that mere words are useless. I don't realize that I'm crying as well until I pull my face away and realize that the fabric of his tunic is soaked with my tears.

He turns into my embrace and wraps his arms around me. Somehow, we both wind up on our knees, each of us crying for our parents and the lives we will never have. I don't know how long we stay there with our arms around each other, both breaking and healing at the same time before Evengi finally releases a heavy breath. "Natasya?" he asks, his voice heavy with emotion.

I look up at him, blinking past the tears still pooling in my eyes. He leans forward, pressing a kiss against my forehead. He leaves his lips there for a long moment before he says. "Take me to see your father."