Deviant Fate

18 - Confusion

-Arowin-

After Gwen left I felt a twist in my stomach. I watched her disappear without a trace. I couldn't reach her. She was able to cut me off.

I lost myself trying to find her. I tore her house upside down in hope she would come back to stop me. I was blinded by loss and rage. I wanted her with me. I couldn't stand being without her. I needed her.

Going through her room I looked around for anything that would tell me where she went. Maps or pictures of places she's been before. I couldn't find anything and it only drove the knife deeper. I've never felt this type of mental anguish. This rage. I will find her. She will never leave me again.

Analyzing her destroyed room, a small box lay upside down under the broken bed frame. A few rings and a necklace. The necklace looked strange, like I'd seen it before, but I assumed I saw Gwen wearing it before. Placing it in my pocket I realized I'm wasting time here.

"Arowin. I know you're upset, but look at what you're doing. You've destroyed her home. I think we both know why she left." Zinni spoke from behind me, but I didn't care what she said.

"Let's go." I gritted out, walking past her as she silently followed behind me.

Racing back to the mansion I ignored everyone who stood shocked by my return. Not caring about anything other than finding her. I needed my brother Keerly. He could infiltrate dreams and see through the eyes of others. He could see certain events that have occurred or may occur.

I stormed through every room until I discovered him in the library.

"Brother." He acknowledged me without looking in my direction. "I see you've returned home. How dearly I missed you." He joked.

"Keer something's happened..." Zinni quietly spoke from behind me.

"Uh oh! What has our beloved brother got himself into now, Zin?"

"Enough. Keerly, I need you to find someone. Now." I commanded.

"Oh! And who might we be finding? Someone breathed in your vicinity again?" He taunted.

Lifting up the necklace, I gripped his wrist and dropped it in his hand.

Startled by the gesture, his head immediately tipped upwards as his eyes turned solid white. His body stood completely still. I've seen his gifts before, but not like this. He usually has to concentrate and it takes him a moment. This was sudden and peculiar.

A few minutes went by before his head dropped and his eyes went back to their natural deep green. Staring at his palm with Gwen's necklace he remained silent and still.

"What did you see?" I questioned persistently.

Looking up slowly his face showed multiple emotions. Sadness, shock, confusion, regret. His silence angered me.

"I saw her." He muttered.

"Gwen? You saw Gwen? Where is she?"

"No. I saw her. The woman who haunts your dreams."

My blood ran cold. I remembered everything, no matter how hard I tried to suppress the memory. Her face remained burned into my mind.

The way her sad smile faded as I took her life. The way her eyes never left mine as life slowly drained from them.

I frequently dreamed of her.

I was 15. It was a command given from my father. He threatened I would be disowned if I didn't succeed. Wanting his approval —Wanting him to be proud of me I did what I was told without question. I wanted to forget about her. To move on like I always did. But she remained etched in my mind. She was innocent. And I took her life.

"Why did you see Deniah, when you should have seen Gwen?" I said lowly.

His face replicated mine. Complete confusion.

"Where did you get this necklace?" He asked.

"It's Gwen's. It was in her jewelry box." I said.

"Whose Gwen?"

"She's— a friend." I trusted my brother, but not when it came to our father.

"A friend... interesting that you've never shown interest in one woman your entire life and now all the sudden you have a friend. A woman friend." He stated, with suspicion.

"Leave it alone, Keer." I warned him.

"Zinni tell me what the fuck is going on." Keerly yelled.

She looked between him and I with worry.

"Arow, please... Just tell him. He might be able to help more if he knows." She tried to reason.

"Tell me what!" He shouted, glaring at me.

"Gweneria, is the woman I love. She is my everything. And I can't stand another moment without her. So fucking help me." The desperation was evident as I angrily pleaded with him.

"Gweneria? What does she look like?" He questioned.

"Why does it matter? I just need you to help me find her. You should have seen her with that damn necklace!"

"A child. With dark curly hair. She was there that night."

"A child? Keer, no one else was there. It was just Deniah and I." I said annoyed.

"Did you know Deniah had a child, Arowin?" He asked accusingly.

"She didn't. There was no one else there. I would have known." I said, trying to remember every inch of the room, from 17 years ago.

Sighing heavily he paced back and forth in frustration. "Don't you think The High Priestess would have hid her child, knowing danger was always near." His green eyes blazed into my now golden eyes. "You not only killed The High Priestess for our father, but you left a witness. And I think we both know who the witness is!" He spit in a low tone.

"No." I gritted out. Not wanting to believe it.

"Let's confirm this, shall we." He retorted, while storming over to me, swiftly placing his thumbs on my temples.

I shoved him away with a quick hit to his jaw. Collecting himself, the look on his face told me he already got what he needed.

"Your little love is the daughter of Deniah." He mocked in anger.