Chapter 70

"You've been distracted lately", Derek said into the darkness of the room. "Your brother's case bothering you?" He had a hint of amusement in his tone. Nathan shrugged from his bed, the darkness hiding his facial features.

"My brother meant nothing to me." His voice was cold and unaffected.

"Still...Taking a life is hard. It must be difficult for you to cope with?"

"It should be. I should be having nightmares. I should be drowning in guilt. But guess what?" His eyes sparkled in the dark, expression turning into one of mirth. "I feel oddly satisfied." Derek didn't show any emotion.

"What if you get caught?"

"Don't be silly, Derek."

"What if the girl tells others?"

Nathan was silent.

"You should be wary of her. She might try to ..."

"She won't", he continued with a chuckle, "I'm of very importance to her. She won't be an idiot." The smugness in his voice made Derek suspicious. Had something taken place between them? He cleared his throat and took another gulp of his favoured Cider.

"I have to meet with my mother for breakfast." Nathan's voice held annoyance.

"I don't understand that woman. I thought she'd go on a rampage and hang the girl for murdering her son. Instead, she's locked herself in her chamber and cut off communication from her family?"

Nathan snorted. "She's managed to surprise me as well." He already knew of her little childish scheme with Carina. But the fact that she had become so accepting of Charles' death was unsettling. Nathan's mind raced. Charles always exclaimed their mother was hiding a big secret only he knew. As the man was an idiot who consumed alcohol in place of water, Nathan had simply brushed his words off. But now thinking back to it... had he been telling the truth?

"Your family is one twisted maze, my friend." Derek smirked. "But I can't shake off the feeling that something is coming. Something ominous." Nathan contemplated his words. He felt so too...

It had been three nights since he had last seen Carina. And he didn't surely expect to see her here. Beside his mother, dressed in a Caramel coloured gown. Nathan was quick to hide his surprise as he greeted his mother a good morning and took a seat. Right across a very quiet Carina. The dining table was too huge for the three of them.

"You've kept us ladies waiting." Lyanna spoke normally. Nathan's jaw ticked.

"My apologies, Mother. Good morning to you too, Sister." The way he pronounced the last word sent a chill down Carina's spine. If only Lyanna knew. She mumbled a greeting back.

"You have dark circles under your eyes." He stated.

"I'm not really in good shape. Losing Charles has been very hard to deal with..." Nathan nodded, falling into the character of a loving brother. Carina wanted to scoff at him. His eyes caught hers in an intense staring match. A blush covered her cheeks as she remembered their last meeting. It had been... eventful.