The Search For Shattered Pieces *Complete*

Chapter Thirty-Five: Resolutions and Right Turns

Trenton:

    Lyra looks like a kid at Christmas. She's taking in everything in the limousine and sticking her head out of the window. She has long taken the clips out of her hair and her hair whips around her like a gorgeous cloak. She's simply stunning. She did indeed get the Asian Flush and it doesn't seem to bother her at all. She's all smiles and radiant joy. We have a bottle of champagne in the limo and we offer her glass which she takes happily. Yes, she did say just one drink, but it's impossible to deny her while she's so very happy.

"This is wonderful," Lyra says and lies back in the limo seat. "I love the lights on the buildings."

"Nothing is a beautiful as you, Lyra," Tal says, smooth talker that he is.

"Awe you're so sweet." Lyra suddenly jumps up and joins us. Wedging her body between ours. We stiffen for only a second before letting her warm body bring us to full relaxation.

"You are glowing Lyra."

"Well, I have a lot to glow about tonight," she says smiling. "I'm so happy."

"We're so glad that you're so happy. That's all we want to do, is make you happy." Tal says.

Lyra sips on her champagne. "You all make me happy...except Xav, I'm not exactly sure what to make of Xav. It seemed like he went from hating me to...to...declaring his love for me and I'm confused."

"Xav is complicated, pigeon." I say. "He wears his armor tight. He feels responsible for everything and that's a lot of burden to put on one person. But he wasn't lying about how he feels for you."

"That's what I don't understand. Love." Lyra leans her head against my shoulder and it's just a wonderful feeling.

"What don't you understand?"

"Love. I mean..." Lyra sighs. "I loved my mom and she died, and left me all alone."

"Not alone, Lyra, never alone," I'm quick to counter.

"Well I came here and you all seemed to resent my presence. And Stefan..."

"Stefan is an asshole. I'm sorry, Lyra, pigeon, I know he's your father, but he's a total asshole."

"He is sorta an asshole isn't he," And Lyra slaps a hand over her mouth, "I can't believe I just said that."

"It's true."

Tal sighs. "Nightingale your father has never been a father to any of us. Not to you and not to us."

"I never had a father figure except for my old coach." And Lyra lifts her head from my shoulder and swallows the rest of the champagne. "He was my everything."

"Your everything."

"He controlled everything. And he said he loved me, he said he loved me all the time. But then he...he...hurt me. So is that love?"

    Oh God. My worst fears are coming true. Lyra had been abused and it sounds like it went on for a long time. How to handle this.

"Lyra, pigeon. That is not love."

"How did he hurt you, love?" Tal asks, and I shoot my brother a glare, I don't want to push her too hard.

Lyra sighs and pushes back her hair. "Oh the normal stuff you know, grabbed me, pushed me, hit me if I didn't comply. Oh and I have been on a diet since I was four, so there's that. That's probably why I don't eat so much. But all that comes with training you guys."