Of Water and Madness (20 page)

“What’s this?” Sebastian questioned as he strolled into the room, his warm gray eyes assessing the situation. He could all but feel the tension and the anger in the air, and saw from the look on Rohan’s face that he was projecting the bulk of it. “Rhiannon is gone?”

“She left us notes explaining that she is taking a vacation for awhile. That is all,” Thea told him, handing him her note as he approached and took the seat across from her.

“That’s strange…” he murmured as his eyes scanned the note, reading Rhiannon’s lovely handwriting.

Thea,

I know this is sudden, but I have decided to take a brief vacation in light of what has happened. I feel it is best that I get away for awhile and take some time for me. I have been regrettably distracted as of late, and some time away will help me recharge and reflect.

I apologize in advance for abandoning my duties for this currently unknown period of time, but I promise I will make it up to you tenfold.

I hope that you will not think less of me for leaving on such short notice and I really hope you do not feel I am being weak. Perhaps I am, in a way, but I see no other option than to distance myself from Liam for the time being.

Please tell the others not to worry, I won’t be gone long. Do not attempt to find me, as I do not wish to be found.

Rhiannon

Sebastian let out a long sigh as he handed the letter back to Thea. He settled back against the sofa, thinking about what he had read.

“This is in her best interest, Rohan,” Sebastian said, meeting eyes with the Earth Dryad, knowing it wasn’t what he wanted to hear. But it needed to be said. “Liam traipsing around the castle with the blonde has not helped things.”

Rohan’s teeth clenched as he scowled. “I can’t believe I was so wrong about him.”

“We are all surprised by his behavior,” Thea began, looking at Sebastian worriedly. “But these things tend to work themselves out. Rhiannon is an incredibly strong girl. I do not see her suffering from this for very long.”

“No, but he is not suffering at all,” Rohan spat, his eyes now dry. In place of his earlier misery was resentment and fury. “It’s not right.”

“Perhaps not, but his actions are not within our control. All we can do is support Rhiannon as best as we can.” Thea placed a gentle hand on his knee, hoping to ease his anger. “Go back to work, Rohan, and forget about this for the time being. Your daughter will be fine.”

He nodded, sensing the dismissal in her voice. Rising to his feet, he left the room without looking at her or Sebastian. He wasn’t going to stop thinking about it, how could he when his daughter was missing? It was all Liam’s fault…

He nearly ran into Serendipity as he swept into the corridor, and the sight of her startled him. She stared up at him, a bit shaken herself.

“Good morning, Rohan,” she greeted politely, attempting a small smile. It hurt her to see him, especially since he had, for weeks now, refused to touch her or even look at her. He still had yet to forgive what she had done, and none of her attempts to reconcile had been successful. But there was something in his eyes now, some kind of desperation that she latched onto with the hopes of being able to break through his shield. “What’s wrong? Are you alright?”

Rohan debated just walking away since the sight of her still caused an ache deep within his chest. He still loved her and he knew he always would…but he definitely did not trust her.

However, Rhiannon was her daughter as well, and she had a right to know what was happening.

“Rhiannon is gone. She left Thea and me both a note this morning saying that she is taking some time away from Euphora. We don’t know where she is or when she’ll return,” he said, crossing his arms to squash the urge to seek comfort from her.

“Dear God.” Serendipity’s hand flew up to cover her mouth, alarmed by the news. And immediately following the alarm came the guilt. “Did she say what upset her?”

“Isn’t it obvious, Serendipity?” Rohan demanded, throwing his hands up in the air bitterly. “That low life son of a bitch and his new girlfriend have driven our daughter away from her own home.”

“I see…” she murmured, despising herself for being grateful that he hadn’t said it was because of her own wretched misdeeds. “Was Rhiannon really hurt by what happened? I haven’t had much time to really speak with her…”

“Damnit, of course she is hurt, she loved him!” Rohan shook his head, fighting to keep his temper under control. His entire life he had known how to do it so well, but lately he’d been like a powder keg, fuse lit to burst at every opportunity. “I guess you wouldn’t really understand love, though, would you?”

Hurt, Serendipity stared up at him miserably. “I know I’ve done so much wrong, Rohan, but if you give me the chance to make it right, I promise I’ll do my best…”

“Your best does not mean much, Serendipity. I expected your best from the start,” he said flatly, straightening in an attempt to ignore the obvious despair in her eyes. He wasn’t ready to accept her back into his life, not yet. “I have to get back to work.”

He pushed past her and left her standing in limbo, wondering if he was ever going to forgive her.

Liam didn’t care
that Rhiannon was gone. The news slid into his brain, processed, then slid right back out again with a shrug of indifference. So she was out of the way. That was fine. It made things easier. He could spend more of his time focusing on Stella. Why should he care if Rhiannon wanted to take a little vacation? She didn’t mean anything to him.

While the news had done little to stir his mind, it had quite the opposite effect on his heart.

But because the little voice would not let him understand what the ache in his chest truly meant, he had no idea just how anguished he actually was. The part of him that was buried deep inside was writhing with worry and fear, but he couldn’t reach the emotion through the haze of fog. And so it was his burden to brush off the issue without a care in the world, despite the accusing stares he was receiving from nearly everyone on Euphora.

The only person who seemed as unperturbed as he, was Stella. And together, the two of them resumed as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred at all.

“So tell me about your parents, Liam,” Stella asked, feeding him a grape as they lounged beneath one of the large trees in the courtyard. Liam’s head was nestled comfortably in her lap while she pressed him for information.

“Their marriage was arranged,” he began, swallowing the grape and smiling pleasantly. “He loved her, but she didn’t love him, but they decided to get married out of obligation. They both needed to produce an heir, and so they decided to come together and use one another. I never knew any of this until recently when I overheard them arguing with each other. My dad can’t understand why my mom supports Serendipity, while he supports Rohan. The issue has divided them.”

“Very interesting…” Stella mused, feeding him another grape as she absorbed the information, filing it away for later. “So your father and Rohan get along?”

“Usually. But sometimes their differences get in the way.”

“How so?” she pressed, wanting more.

“My dad doesn’t like Serendipity, never has. It’s been a touchy topic between them for years.”

“Because Rohan loves her, despite your father’s disapproval?”

“Yes. And he used to always defend her, until she wronged him and Rhiannon so badly that he’s now separated from her. But I don’t think he’s ever stopped loving her, despite everything.”

“Pathetic.” Stella chuckled, enormously pleased by how much drama there was to choose from. “Tell me, Liam, what is Thea’s greatest fear?”

“Losing one of us, or all of us,” he casually replied, smiling up at her. “She’s scared of death, even though she cannot die.”

“No, but all of you can.” Stella smiled wickedly, stroking her fingers affectionately through his dark hair. “I wonder what would become of her and Sebastian if all of you perished, and if this place was reduced to nothing but rubble and ash...”

“They’d rebuild,” he said automatically, causing her to scowl down at him.

“Then we would destroy everything again and again, until she hadn’t the strength to bother trying. We would drive her from this Earth and then we would rule.” Stella’s hands clenched excitedly in Liam’s hair, causing him to wince from the pain. Sensing him suddenly slipping from her control, she swiftly guided him back to her, encasing him in her thick cocoon. “Liam…you’re mine now, don’t forget. My little puppet, my little mind to probe and use to my heart’s desire. Don’t you dare think of fighting back, because you won’t win…”

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Clarity and Serendipity approaching, looking apprehensive and concerned. Forcing the greedy vengeance from her face, Stella smiled up at the two women and encouraged Liam to do the same.

“Hello there,” she said cheerfully.

“Ladies,” Liam greeted, grinning at his mother.

Clarity wrung her hands in front of her, her pretty face contorted with anxiety.

“Liam, can we speak with you, alone?” she requested, her eyes darting to Stella uneasily. Stella had to bite back the urge to roll her eyes and instead instructed Liam on what to say.

“Does Stella have to go? Whatever you have to say to me, you can say in front of her.”

“It’s important that we speak alone, Liam,” Serendipity added.

Knowing it would look too suspicious if he refused again, Stella spoke for him.

“Go ahead, handsome. I’ll wait right here.” She smiled down at him and winked, knowing she was putting on a show. He grinned in return and sat up, kissing her before climbing to his feet.

“I’m all yours,” he announced, following the Muses as they led him several yards away where they would not be overheard.

Serendipity spoke first, her agitation clear. “I have to ask, Liam, because I am concerned for my daughter. Why have you done this to her? She’s distraught enough that she’s left her home and you don’t seem to care.”

His responses were ingrained in his mind like a speech to be recited on cue. “To be honest, I don’t care. If this is what will bring her peace of mind, then it’s fine with me.”

Clarity frowned, unsure why her normally caring son should be so callous. “Aren’t you worried about her, even a little? She’s out there somewhere, alone, because she’s hurting over you.”

He shrugged, tucking his hands into his pockets and grinning. “Not really my problem.”

Startled, Clarity and Serendipity stared at each other and gaped, not believing what they had just heard.

“How can you love someone one minute and then not even care at all about them the next?” Clarity asked, confusion in her eyes as she stared at her son as if he were a stranger.

He turned to her, and something dark flashed over his face even as he continued to smile. “I don’t know. How could you marry dad without any intention of ever returning his love for you? You used him all these years and have never given back what you’ve taken from him.”

“What?” Clarity stammered, her hands flying up to clutch her chest in shock. Beside her, Serendipity looked irate.