The Heirs: The Silver Knight

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Aleks

Imogen and I are standing together in the lighthouse, looking out at the water. It's warm here, the summer breeze is starting to creep in a bit. The sun hits her face, making her freckles stand out. She shuts her eyes as the rays gleam over her. She's so fucking beautiful and she'll never know how much she really means to me. The things I'd do for her.

She opens her eyes slowly, turning to me. She smiles softly at me, as if embarrassed to be caught.

The waves lap quietly against the shore. It's a calm day, but I'm not so easily deceived. I know today is a big deal for Imogen.

"Are you sure about this?" I ask.

Imogen looks down at the group of letters clutched in her hands, knuckles white with how tightly she is holding them.

"Yes," she breathes. "It feels like the last step..."

"Okay," I nod, leaning back against the wall as we hear footsteps coming up the spiral stairs.

Wes Farrell steps up to greet us, nodding a bit. Jemma follows closely behind him.

"You rang?" he asks, looking equally nervous and confused.

"Y-yes," Imogen clears her throat anxiously.

Jemma frowns with concern as she approaches Imogen, running a comforting hand over her shoulder. "Are you alright, Gen?"

"I have something I want to tell you both," she breathes, looking at Wes, "You specifically."

"Alright..." Wes mutters, looking at me nervously.

Jemma seems to read the room and steps beside me, giving Wes and Imogen the floor.

Imogen inhales deeply.

It takes everything in me not to go to her, to hold her, to explain for her so she doesn't have to relive her pain again and again.

But I know she needs this.

"I knew Rory," she breathes. Her voice wobbles. "I...loved Rory."

Jemma's hand comes up to her mouth, shaking a bit as tears fill her eyes.

Wes is silent. And frozen.

Imogen clears her throat a bit again.

"We met two years ago in Dublin and started a secret relationship. I was the girl he was exchanging letters with. I was May."

She holds out a few of the letters, carefully selected, from Rory.

Tears fall down her cheeks.

"These are some of his...sketches that he sent me. That I think he'd like you to have. They're of Dublin mostly," she breathes. "I won't give you all the letters, but these are a few..."

Wes stares at the letters in her hand, then slowly up at her.

"Is this a joke?" he whispers, his own eyes going watery.

"I would never joke about this," she says. "I loved Rory very much. I can answer any questions you have."

"You..." Wes runs a hand through his hair, shaking his head. "He..."

"He didn't want anyone to know," she explains. "He was afraid Gabe would find out and that him, or I, would be in danger because of it. He's why I came to LU. When I found out he was killed, I came anyway to help find out who did it."

Wes stares for another long moment.

Then he slowly grabs the letters.

He sniffs as he opens it and sees his brother's handwriting, his brother's sketches.