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Ghosted

Ghosted - Secrets in Stone (Chapter 14)

Series Summary - Prince Liam fell for Riley Brooks hard and fast. A marriage filled with love and devotion was within his reach, but everything changed when she vanished just before the end of the social season. As everyone voices their concerns regarding her scandalous departure, a confession from an unlikely source turns Liam's world upside down and makes him question everything around him.

Book/Pairing - TRR - Liam x f!MC (Riley Brooks)

A/N 1 - This AU starts right before the beginning of the engagement tour. There is a two-month lapse between the coronation and where we pick up, but we will stray from canon. Please excuse any errors found. Not beta'd. Barely edited (fuggit, we ball).

A/N 2 - I'M BACK! Well, for now, anyway 🙃. It's been over a freaking year since I updated this (how tho???! 🥲) or even looked at it but I got the urge the other day during some free time to work on stuff! (By the way, you can catch up here if you need a little refresher!) I know the fandom is *actually* dead at this point but I honestly don't care. Lol. Imma finish what I started, even if it takes 10 years 🫡.

A/N 3 - Listen I researched some stuff and I have a little medical experience but I am not a doctor so don't come for me over any inaccuracies. It's just a story 😎.

Characters belong to Pixelberry.

Tags - @choicesficwriterscreations

After Liam, Leo, and Regina decided at the Portavira hospital, Constantine was quickly airlifted back to the Capitol to join his home team of medical staff. His doctors worked tirelessly to get him stable, but his condition remained fluctuant since he arrived at the Cordonian Medical University. They hadn’t received a recent update, but Liam was determined that the moment he was able, he and Constantine would pick up their conversation right where it left off.

The anxiety he felt was like no other. He hadn’t slept in days and didn’t remember the last time he consumed something other than coffee. Time molded together, and he wasn’t sure what day of the week it was. The search for Riley drove him right to the gates of insanity, but Liam was determined, with everything in him, he was going to find her, no matter what it took.

The tension in the waiting room was a palpable force. Liam paced the area tirelessly, biting his nails until each finger bled. Leo stared into space and bounced his leg rapidly, filling the air with the sound of his pants as they rubbed against the upholstery of his chair. Regina watched the pair with pinched brows, and the longer she stared, the higher her curiosity rose. She noticed well before today that their demeanors had been different lately, and she heard of Liam’s hospital stay only a few days prior. His body language was off the charts at all moments, but she didn’t have any idea what could have created such trouble for them. She speculated but didn’t know for certain if her hunch was correct. All she knew was that something was indeed being kept from her.

Regina observed until she could no longer stand the tension and her curiosity got the better of her. “Liam… Are you alright?” She faintly asked, but her voice nearly echoed in the stillness.

“No, I’m not. He has to make it.” Liam answered, all the while continuing his pacing.

Regina's features softened. “I understand this is difficult to process, but everything is going to be alright—”

“No, it’s not!” Liam suddenly yelled, startling Regina and causing her to jump. “I need to know who did it. I have to know.”

Regina’s brows furrowed, her confusion reaching its peak. “What do you mean?”

Liam spoke again, but Regina quickly realized he spoke to himself instead of her. He walked in a short line then back again, his eyes glued to the floor and when he answered, his words were fast and muddled. “I just don’t understand. Who could’ve talked him into this mess? Was it Madeleine?” He pinched his brows and stopped before he shook his head. “No, no — he wouldn’t do what just anyone says… And that’s way too obvious, right? Right.”

Regina interjected, “Liam, what—”

“The council? Was this a collaborative effort? Is everyone guilty?” He continued, as his face quickly shifted from a bright shade of red to nearly white. “Can I trust anyone? Is this a sign to abdicate and call it a win?” He paused, the wheels visibly cranking inside his head before he spat out, “That solves nothing and doesn’t keep her safe! What the fuck am I supposed to do?!”

“Liam!” Regina yelled, stopping him in his tracks. Her eyes widened, she cleared her throat, and she smoothed down her skirt when his fiery gaze centered on her. “I apologize for the outburst, but what in the world are you talking about?”

“What?”

“You said something about Madeleine? And the council?”

Liam could only stare at Regina. He swore all that was happening inside his head, but it seemed lately there was no difference between the two. “I — uh…” He swallowed thickly as he silently weighed his options.

He didn’t know if he should tell Regina. It wasn’t because he believed she could be involved, but he didn’t want to risk putting her in danger. But now that the thought arose, it played repetitively, causing his heart rate to increase because maybe she could know something.

At this point, it wouldn’t surprise him if even Leo had a hand in it.

He shook the thought quickly, willing his paranoia to stay at bay. However, he also realized if Constantine had told anyone about his indiscretions, it would’ve been Regina, and his conscience wouldn't allow him to dismiss her as a person of interest.

Liam let out a sigh, placed a hand on Regina’s shoulder, and led her to a chair. He sat down beside her and addressed her in a low, stern tone. “What’s spoken of here does not get repeated. Are we understood?” He momentarily cursed himself because he wasn’t trying to come off this way to Regina, but he was so far over the ledge, that he could practically see underneath.

Regina agreed, and Liam swiftly caught her up to speed on what they knew, and her tears freely fell by the time he finished. She had no idea these things had happened and felt like a fool because she was a reigning monarch at the time the initial incident transpired. This was just as much her fault as it was Constantine’s, and she felt guilty for assuming what the media presented was correct.

“Liam, I didn’t know… I’m so sorry this has happened…” Regina started as she wiped her cheeks. “I heard you were running some kind of investigation, but—”

“You know about the investigation?” Liam hastily inquired, his red eyes not even blinking as he awaited her answer.

“It was hard to miss, unfortunately.” She sadly smiled. “I’m afraid most people know you were looking into Lady Riley’s whereabouts, but they don’t know how deep it runs.”

“Who’s been talking about it?”

“The truth?” Liam nodded, so Regina finished. “... Everyone.”

“Everyone?”

“Yes, Liam… Word traveled around the court fast after you hired some kind of investigator—”

“They know about Ray, too?” Liam repeated in complete disbelief.

“Yes, but everyone assumed you were simply looking for Lady Riley to demand an explanation. No one has mentioned anything about her still being in the country, or anything else, for that matter.”

“Do you know anything about it? Did father ever mention it?”

“No, he didn’t,” Regina answered through clenched teeth. “And if he pulls through this, he had better pray to the heavens above for protection, because I have a lot to say to him regarding the matter.”

“What about the murders?” Leo interjected. “Has anyone said anything about those?”

“No. Most don’t even know who the maid was, and Penelope’s death hasn’t circulated the rumor mill yet.”

Liam ran a hand down his face as he let this conversation seep in. Nothing they’d done was secret. Sure, some aspects were, but they had been so careful to keep this under wraps, yet this information seemed to spread like wildfire.

This raised the question — was there yet another mole? His vision briefly connected with Leo’s and his expression echoed Liam’s, confirming that his suspicion wasn’t just paranoia.

“Regina, you can’t tell anyone —”

“You have my word, Liam.” Regina softly interrupted. “If I can do anything to help you in any way —”

“No.” Liam sternly answered. “I don’t want you anywhere near this — forget this conversation ever happened. I trust you, but I don’t want you getting mixed up in this.” He stopped himself, not knowing if he spoke he truthl. He didn’t know if he trusted her, but unless he received a reason, Regina’s name moved to the bottom of his list of suspects.

“But if someone mentions it…” Leo trailed off.

A doctor appeared in the doorway a moment later and bowed to the trio, interrupting the moment. “Your Majesties, my name is Doctor Gordon —”

Liam shot up from his seat. “How is he? Is he awake?”

“I’m afraid he’s not, sir, but we’ve stabilized him. We’re waiting on a few more lab results and his vitals are fluctuant, but for the time being, he seems to be on a steady level.”

“What happened?”

“Unfortunately, this can happen in carcinoma patients. The cancer already dwindles air and the lungs overexert and overpower the heart, triggering a myocardial infarction.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Liam practically barked as his patience ran thin.

“He suffered a heart attack. In any other circumstance, his survival rate would be high, but because of the cancer, unfortunately, his heart was already weak.”

“A heart attack?” Liam mimicked in disbelief.

“Yes, sir — a pretty nasty one. All we can do is keep him comfortable—”

“Don’t say it,” Liam gritted out through clenched teeth. “There has to be something you can do.” He pleaded, his desperation quickly skyrocketing. “We have funds — get a fucking specialist or something!”

Dr. Gordon winced at his volume. “Sir, he’s not eligible for any kind of surgery — his lungs will collapse the second we administer anesthesia. We’re giving him medications to keep him relaxed and manage his pain, but I’m afraid there’s not much more to be done...”

Liam could only stare at the man in front of him as if he spoke another language. This should not have been a surprise; they all knew Constantine was on borrowed time, but the convenience of hitting another roadblock regarding Riley couldn't be denied. That was his father, and he wanted to be sad that his life was essentially ending, but all he felt was anger and regret that he didn’t get the chance to uncover the final hidden piece of the puzzle, leading him to wonder if he would ever be able to find her again.

“Will he wake back up?” Liam tentatively asked, holding onto any little sliver of hope.

“I’m not sure, sir. He could, but it all depends on him right now. There’s nothing we can do to bring him out of it — it’s just a waiting game at this point.” The doctor responded with a sad smile. “I’m truly sorry.”

“Can you take us to him?” Regina tearfully inquired.

“Of course, ma’am.” Dr. Gordon bowed.

Leo and Regina went to follow, but Liam couldn’t force himself to go. If his father was not yet awake, he had somewhere else he needed to be. He wanted to feel guilty for not staying, but he meant what he said to Constantine; he was no longer his father. All he could picture was a monster who turned a blind eye while letting someone hurt the woman his heart still cries for. Perhaps his feelings would change with time, but for right now, he felt nothing but hatred for his sperm donor.

And his conscience screamed at him, demanding he go check out his father’s suggestion — the tunnels.

As a child, he’d heard fables and stories of the dreaded, abandoned area, hidden deep under estates from some older nobles. However, it never received recognition from a technical standpoint, only hearsay; it wasn’t something you’d learn about during a lesson or schooling of any type.

Liam honestly didn’t know if his father was being truthful or just trying to provide him with some kind of answer to deflect his anger. He had no reason to trust a word that came out of Constantine’s mouth, but he couldn’t deny the sudden jump he felt as he mentioned it; like a blast of lightning struck him, sending a jolt of electricity down the length of his spine. Rationally thinking, he was wary of believing his father, but his heart’s reaction couldn’t go unnoticed.

Either way, he felt he needed to check. They had to address anything and everything they found, and this would be no different. He assured himself that if Olivia were there, she would’ve already left to secure the scene. The rest of the duchies would get attention later, but right now, he needed to check his home turf.

Leo noticed Liam didn’t follow and turned around to see the wheels actively working in his brother’s head. “Li…”

“You go. Stay with him in case he wakes up.” Liam answered, his eyes centered on the palace in the distance as he peered out a window.

“Where are you going?”

“I have to check,” Liam said, more to himself than Leo. “He mentioned the tunnels — if she could be there, I have to look.” He swallowed down a lump of bile as he thought about what he might find, but either way, he needed to know.

“Liam, I know you want to, but —”

“I have to, Leo.” He swallowed thickly and quickly blinked, willing the sudden burn behind his eyelids to go away. “I have to.” He whispered.

“Then I’m coming with you,” Leo responded with utmost determination.

“No. I want you to stay with him.”

Leo’s mouth fell agape. “That is not happening —”

“I’m ordering you not to leave his side, Leo, not until I say it’s okay.” Liam rumbled. “Don’t fucking test me. I’m not in the mood. I need you here.” He turned and strode away before Leo received a chance to respond.

Leo watched Liam go with wide eyes. He didn’t know what to think or do in this situation. He couldn’t fathom that his father had done such a thing — that he stooped so low. Leo had his issues with Constantine, but nothing even close in comparison. However, he realized Liam was a walking ball of rage; there was no telling what he would do, but he wasn’t thinking clearly. Right now, he only saw the anger he felt at the moment. He was oblivious to what his actions could spiral into, and Leo couldn’t help but feel like this game was far from over.

Leo quickly pulled his phone out and called Drake, who was close by, to tell him to keep an eye out for him. It wasn’t because Leo wanted to stop him; he only wanted to ensure Liam did not go alone. He realized there was no telling what could be waiting — if anything — but on the chance there was something down there, Liam would not walk into it by himself.

Liam returned to the palace a short time later and instead of heading through the front doors, he veered left. He walked directly beside the building, surveying the concrete siding with his eyes and hands, mindlessly searching for something he wasn’t even sure existed. He didn’t know if anyone was around, and didn’t know if he had a guard trailing behind him. The only thing his brain registered was his footsteps in the grass and the immediate view in front of him.

To know Riley could have been here this entire time, right under his nose, made him sick to his stomach. Not only did he turn his back on her, but he potentially walked right above her all day every day, wishing she was there; now, there was a chance she was the entire time, and he couldn’t even begin to process it.

He still couldn’t fathom how this entire operation happened right under his nose. If Olivia hadn’t spoken up, someone would have covered this whole thing up. He not only abandoned her, but he also allowed this madness to happen. The guilt he felt at that moment was hard to ignore, but as he mindlessly trekked around the outside of the palace, searching for the unknown, his hands shook as he realized what could lie before him.

Riley could be inches away; he swore he could sense her aura near. His footsteps quickened and echoed in the stillness, even in the moistened grass, as he let that thought resonate through his body like lightning in his veins, fueling him forward. He was on a mission and saw nothing except his end goal.

Riley was close, and he was going to rescue her.

A hand on his shoulder startled Liam. He spun around with his fist cocked, ready to strike, but he stood down when he saw Drake. “It’s just me, Li…”

Liam raised his palm. “Don’t try to stop me, Drake. I’m going to find it.”

“I know, man. I’m coming with you.”

“No, we don’t know what’s down there—”

“Exactly. No way in hell are you going in there alone.” Drake swiftly interrupted. “Come on, let’s go.” Without a second of hesitation, he walked a few feet away from Liam to the back of the palace, directly to a wall covered in thick vines. He brought out his pocketknife and sliced through the shrubbery, revealing a large stone door.

“How did you know?” Liam rasped as he finished, his steely glare centered on Drake.

Drake recognized his hostility and raised his arms in surrender. Liam didn't outright accuse him of anything, but the fiery blues staring back at him told him exactly what he was thinking. “I’ve run around this place unattended for most of my life, Liam.”

Liam shook his head to clear the chaos. His features softened, and he released a deep breath before he replied, “Right… Sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

“S’all good, man.” Drake returned with a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Ready?”

Liam mindlessly nodded, and the two started their venture. They swung the stone door open and saw a set of stairs that led into the vastness of the unknown, the chilled temperature seeping out and coating their skin in goosebumps. Liam entered first, Drake hot on his heels, and they cautiously began the descent.

Every creaky step echoed against the concrete walls, amplifying the tension until they reached a long, dark hallway. The depths of the palace tunnels were cold, damp, and incredibly creepy. A combination of dust and mold littered the air, and spider webs covered most of the walls. It truly mimicked what you’d see in movies, even down to the dull illumination from flickering sconces. The further they traveled, the worse it got and the higher their anticipation rose.

They followed until they reached a dead end. Both men glanced around, but neither could understand. They found the end of the tunnels and didn’t find a sign of anyone. There were no cells or doors, as Constantine suggested, and no signs of any life around. The only sounds to be heard in the deafening silence were their ragged breaths, mixed in with their pounding hearts as they let this conclusion sink in.

“Goddamnit! He fucking lied to me, Drake! Again!” Liam suddenly erupted, his voice nearly loud enough to burst an eardrum as it echoed off the stone walls. “He won’t have to worry about his heart giving out — he needs to be more concerned with what I’m going to do once I get back to that hospital.” He went to storm away, but Drake suddenly stopped him.

“Hold on a sec, Li.” Drake pulled out a small book from his jacket pocket and opened it. “I went to the library and got that book when Leo called to warn me you were coming and where you were going, just in case we needed it. Okay, we’re here…” He pointed at the page before both men carefully assessed the old, dusty map.

“What is that?” Liam asked as he motioned to a dark area. It appeared to be a door of some kind, although they saw no trace of anything as they peered around.

“That’s gotta be what we’re looking for. These maps don’t have the hidden shit on them, but there’s usually always a clue somewhere or an indicator of some kind.”

“How do you know all this?” He inquired as he skeptically eyed his best friend.

Drake smirked. “What do you think I did all those years when you were busy doing prince shit? I know every crevice of this place — if she’s here, we’re going to find her.”

“How are we going to find the door?”

“I dunno.” Drake shrugged. “We might just have to feel along the walls, or look for anything out of place.”

“Like creepy, floor-to-ceiling paintings in an otherwise empty hallway?” Liam asked as he pointed to a portrait hung not far away, conveniently placed in a darkened shadow.

“That’d do it,” Drake answered as they made their way over.

Liam touched the art and tried to move it, but even when he used all his might, it wouldn’t budge. He felt all around the area, searching for a lever or some kind of pulley, but uncovered nothing of relevance.

Drake took a step back and searched his memories as desperation started to creep in. He spent most of his childhood exploring the palace in moments of boredom. Liam joined when he could, but Drake had to entertain himself when he couldn’t fathom being around Maxwell or Olivia and often ended up in areas he knew he wasn’t supposed to be near, including this one.

When he was younger — probably ten or eleven — he found himself in this same tunnel. Somehow, he opened the secret door, but he got scared when he peeked in and quickly left. It was a complete accident; he didn’t even remember how he got the door to open. The only thing he recalled was that he stumbled and hurt his shoulder on the wall, then he flailed for balance as he began to fall. When his hand reached out for leverage, instead of connecting with the stone as intended, he grabbed the sconce and accidentally turned it in his descent. As he stood, he pushed on the painting to regain his leverage, and then...

Drake suddenly looked up and saw a light beside the portrait. All the other sconces held varying illumination, but produced light in some fashion; this was the only one they’d seen so far that was completely black — not even a faint spark. He approached and, without a second thought, he turned it to the side. Liam watched with furrowed brows and opened his mouth to speak, but a loud click silenced him. Suddenly, the outline of a door appeared and stopped him in his tracks, causing his breath to sputter.

He pushed on the wall before another click sounded and the door slowly crept open, revealing a darker, tighter hallway, somehow leading deeper and further into the unknown. The area was nearly completely black and smelled incredibly moldy, with hues of cigar smoke and sweat mixing in with a plethora of other rancid scents. Drake pulled his phone out, turned the flashlight on and peeked in, but they couldn’t see anything except a long, seemingly never-ending pit of darkness.

Liam went first but stepped slowly as his anticipation rose. Although he wanted to rush through, his anxiety multiplied as he took in the eeriness before them. His unease quadrupled, an anvil-sized chill traveling down the length of his spine and back up again. When they approached the end, the vicinity held a little more light from dim, flickering sconces, but not enough for them to see clearly.

They made their way to the end of the hall by feeling along the cold, moistened walls, except this time, one lone, stone door with corroded metal bars awaited them at the end. Drake and Liam’s hair on the back of their necks stood straight up as they saw a chain and padlock lying on the floor, the structure slightly ajar. Liam cautiously approached and pushed it open with shaky hands, swallowing thickly to contain the vile as it rose to the back of his throat.

As they stepped over the threshold, they saw a line of what appeared to be small holding cells; three, to be exact. The boxes were small with just enough room for the few pieces of furniture. The first two were empty and the cots were perfectly made, showing no signs of anyone. They approached the last and Liam’s heart sank into the pits of his stomach as he realized it was vacant as well. However, his mind started to race as he realized this one clearly housed someone at some point; a tray of untouched food sat on a small table in between the toilet and bed, which was unmade and tousled, causing his hands to shake uncontrollably as he tried to process this scene.

“Holy shit…” Drake gasped as he took in their surroundings. “How did we never find this?”

“I don’t know… I think the better question is, how did someone else find it?”

“They didn’t, Li. Someone knew this shit was here and how to access it — nobody just stumbled upon this.” Drake rubbed his chin, his disbelief shining brightly as he tried to make sense of this new revelation. “There’s no fucking way.”

Liam stepped toward the bed and lifted the pillow to his face. He inhaled a deep breath and a faint floral fragrance invaded his senses and sparked some kind of recognition, but he couldn’t pinpoint if it was Riley or not. “Do — do you think she was here?”

Drake momentarily remained silent as he weighed his words, figuring out the best way to be honest with his best friend without completely demolishing the fragile remnants of his hope. “Clearly someone was, but it’s hard to say if it was her…” He faintly answered.

Liam nodded and returned the pillow, his heart racing while every worst-case scenario ran through his head. He shook it off and instead touched the tray of food and as he did, sweat immediately poured down his forehead, and a sudden chill swept over his entire body, as if he'd opened the door to Lythikos' keep in the middle of a snowstorm, as he realized —

The food was still warm.

“Drake…” His voice trembled, and he spoke quietly as his eyes surveyed the room. “Someone was here recently — like, within a few hours, maybe less… I can’t help but feel like they knew we’d come down here.”

“What do you mean?”

“That door was open on purpose, Drake, and this food is still warm. They wanted us to know someone was in here.”

Drake momentarily considered it before he responded, “You’re right, but how do we know who it was?”

“I don’t know… I need to contact Olivia and Ray to let them know about this. If my father was correct, these could be in all the duchies...” Liam trailed off with a hopeless expression. He shook his head with his hands on his hips, desperation setting in. “What am I supposed to do, Drake? I — I’m at a complete loss. No matter what we do, we still can’t seem to get ahead and now they’re taunting me, too.”

“It does seem like they’re taunting you a bit,” Drake agreed as he looked around the deserted box with barely enough for both of them to stand in.

“Do I send out teams everywhere? How can I do that without someone knowing? They already knew we were coming here, and I didn’t even tell anyone! The investigation may as well be on the evening fucking news!” Liam shouted as his composure turned to ash and he let the tidal wave of his emotions wash over him.

“I — I wish I could answer that, Li, but I’m not the one to ask… You need to get Olivia and Ray in on this as soon as possible.”

“I just need to see her, Drake…” Liam admitted, his lip involuntarily quivering. He stopped his steps but refused to make eye contact. His tears threatened to spill over, but he couldn’t decide if they stemmed from sadness, frustration, defeat, or all of the above.

Drake noticed Liam’s shift and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “I know… Everything is gonna work itself out.”

“How can you say that? You’ve seen what’s been happening!” Liam exclaimed as he shook Drake’s palm away, his agitation returning full force. “I can’t keep doing this cat-and-mouse game. I’m canceling the tour — right now.”

Drake’s eyes widened. “Li, I don’t think —”

“There’s nothing else to do, Drake! I can’t keep going back and forth. Between this, and now my father, I can’t keep pretending everything is okay.” Liam shook his head as a lone tear traveled down his cheek. “I can’t.” He brokenly whispered.

Drake’s features softened. “I know this is a fucking nightmare, but you can’t do that, Liam, not until we know Brooks is safe… You can probably get away with postponing some stuff because of your dad, but you can’t outright cancel everything…” He swallowed thickly as he tried to keep his head level. He pushed aside his own desolate feelings to console Liam, but between worrying about Riley and dealing with Bastien's betrayal, he didn't know how much longer he could keep on this show. His best friend needed him to be strong and coherent, but the strength he rallied to be Liam's backbone ran sparse. They’d been through a lot together, but this situation put a whole new meaning to the term through hell and back.

Liam didn’t answer, but deep down, he knew Drake was indeed correct. Until Riley was directly in front of him, he couldn’t do anything to further irritate whoever held these cards, as much as that infuriated him. This entire tim,e everyone kept telling him he was the king — that he was in control — but that was never true. He was merely a puppet in someone else’s scheme and he found himself helplessly stuck, even though he wanted to throw in the towel. The thought of abdication crossed his mind on more than one occasion, but again, until Riley was one hundred percent safe, he couldn’t do anything.

“Maybe we should get ahold of Olivia and see what she thinks about this,” Drake softly suggested after a long moment of silence.

Liam couldn’t muster a response, but he nodded and mindlessly made his way out. They headed back to the main floor of the palace to the grand staircase in complete silence, the tension looming among them thicker than ever before. Liam didn’t have any idea where he was going, nor did he register any scenery on their walk; he couldn’t think straight.

So much ran amok through his already jumbled thoughts. Since his father told them of the hidden tunnels, he hadn’t spoken to anyone other than Leo, Regina, and now Drake. Bastien was no longer around, yet someone still beat them down there. He wanted nothing more than to believe it could have been Riley in that cell, but he didn’t know what to conclude. Nothing made sense. He felt as if the world around him was on fire, but he had no choice other than to walk through the flames with a smile.

Drake led Liam to his office, thinking that would be the best place for them to do something productive. He stepped aside to allow him access to unlock the door, and Liam mindlessly put his key inside the lock, not noticing that it wasn’t even necessary. The structure creaked open, but Liam suddenly froze as he took in his surroundings.

He knew when he left last he shut everything off, but a fire roared in the hearth and the TV was on a national news station, although muted. The blinds on his windows were open, the opposite of how he left them. The lamp on his desk shone brightly, and he undoubtedly knew that was the very last thing he’d turned off when he left.

Without a shadow of uncertainty, he knew someone had been there.

The temperature suddenly dropped, and an eerie sensation filled the air — one that was becoming all too familiar. Liam stepped over the threshold and took a couple of slow, cautious steps forward, ignoring the goosebumps coating his entire body. The anticipation of the situation multiplied until it became a tangible force — a living, breathing creature that derived from his demons, laying dormant, waiting for its next moment to rise and unleash hell upon his world. The room remained silent, but it wasn't content or peaceful; instead it felt louder than the screams of his deep anguish. For the first time in months, the whirlwind of his thoughts halted, but it was far from a relief. A sense of dread rushed over him so viciously that it nearly took him to his knees, but he didn't falter. He stood taller to project dominance over the mythical figure of his emotions, but he knew the attempt was subpar at best, and his demons saw how close he was to breaking.

He spun around in the middle of the room with pinched brows as he surveyed his surroundings. “What the hell?” He whispered, his voice slicing through the silence like a knife.

“Careful, Li…” Drake spoke as he followed closely, his eyes darting all around to look for any kind of threat.

“Someone’s been here…” Liam spoke as he did the same, combing the vicinity with a dissecting gaze.

“Yeah, but again, who?”

“That seems to be the question of the day,” Liam acknowledged as he noticed a lit candle on the coffee table. The pool of wax was only a small circle around the wick, which led him to decide that whoever lit it did so only minutes ago. “Someone is playing with me, Drake…” He trailed off, the hair on the back of his neck rising to attention as he extinguished the flame.

“Is there a guard close by? Maybe we need to let them handle this…” Drake suggested as his unease continued to grow.

Liam ignored him and mustered every ounce of strength he had to calm his rising anxiety. Even though he searched the room from top to bottom, he saw no prominent threats. Other than the things he’d already noticed, nothing else stood out. There were no signs that anyone had broken in or stolen anything; it almost appeared as if someone simply wanted him to know that they were there.

He carefully approached his desk with Drake glued to his side. He intended to grab the phone and call Olivia to see what she suggested they do next. However, as he scanned over the contents on top of the mahogany structure, he realized something he’d never seen lay directly in front of his chair. His hands trembled as he picked up the item, but when recognition swept over him, it was accompanied by anguish that resembled a dagger to the gut.

It was a folded-up newspaper from the day Riley became the Apple Queen, but someone scratched out her face in red marker on the front-page picture of her and Liam, and covered her body in obscenities. Large, animated tears streamed from Liam’s eyes, and his smile was transformed into a large, dramatic frown. The underlining in the attached article emphasized Riley’s commoner status, while others highlighted passages about an ‘enamored prince’ and her likelihood of success. He scoured the text underneath until the passage broke off and continued on a different page, but as he went to unfold it, something dropped from inside the paper.

Drake curiously crouched as he observed the contents meet the floor. He could tell papers or cards of some sort fell, but those became momentarily forgotten as something else dropped. It didn’t take long for him to realize it was human hair; long, silky strands of blonde mane, and a substantial amount of it.

He swallowed thickly as he recognized Riley as the only person they knew with blonde hair — aside from Madeleine, but her locks were nowhere near as lengthy as Riley’s. He bent down and picked up a wad for himself and Liam to see along with everything else, but as he realized what else he held, he stopped breathing.

With the hair were photos — Constantine at the hospital, Liam entering the palace that night, Penelope’s body arriving back in Portavira, Olivia and Ray investigating — all things nobody should have known anything about.

Before he could process anything, Drake’s vision went past what he held and landed on the now-opened paper still in Liam's hands. He furrowed his brow as he spotted something scribbled on the inside and motioned to it, causing Liam to look down with confusion written on his features until he saw peeks as well. He brought it to his face with visibly shaky hands and held his breath as he prepared himself for the worst, but within seconds, any and every ounce of hope burst into flames.

Liam dropped into his office chair, and Drake watched his complexion drain until he mimicked a ghost, his breathing steadily increasing in pace and intensity. His tears fell freely until he nearly sobbed, the shift happening so fast that Drake was momentarily speechless.

He quickly sprang into action and crouched in front of Liam. “Li — calm down. Take a couple of deep breaths… Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it.”

After a few seconds of stillness, he answered, “I — I don’t know if there’s a-anything left to be d-done, Drake.” Liam got out through gasps and hiccups, making no attempts to cover his deteriorating state.

“What’re you talking about? We can’t give up now!” Drake hollered.

Liam remained silent for a long moment, the tension thickening by the second. His tears dried and the ache in his chest expanded until it exploded, leaving nothing but agony behind. “I don’t think we have a choice in the matter…” He responded, his voice flat and devoid of any emotion.

“Bullshit. What was it? Lemme see,” Drake demanded as his irritation skyrocketed. He was not willing to let Liam give up — not now. Whatever it was, they could and would deal with it. He didn’t know how, but someone had to keep some hope flowing in an otherwise grim situation.

Liam didn’t answer, but shook his head and stared blankly into space as he let the wave envelop him whole. His breath hitched and, although he tried to fight it, his tears flowed freely once more. He fisted his hair, and his shoulders shook with anguished sobs, the sound reverberating off the walls. Drake hastily snatched the item from his hands as his agitation got the best of him, even though he was experiencing a side of Liam he was sure nobody had ever seen. He held the paper in front of his face for only a moment before his irritation instantly dissipated, instead replaced with overwhelming anxiety as he’d never felt before.

They concluded Riley was in the country and speculated she was being held hostage, but they didn’t know for sure. They had very little information to prove where she was or wasn’t, and they tried not to jump to conclusions without having all the facts. Of course, her sources of identification would be required to vacate the country, but it wasn’t impossible to do. It wouldn’t have been easy, but people cross borders all the time — it was a far-fetched theory, but Drake held onto every little sliver of hope that she escaped after all.

However, as he stared down at the message left for Liam, there was no longer a need to theorize — the implications rang loud and clear. Within the blink of an eye, any semblance of hope turned to dust as they let the situation sink in.

The paper landed on the floor in front of the lengthy window behind the desk. Outside, a storm raged on, perfectly depicting the tidal wave of emotions coursing through the room and the graveness of the situation at hand. The rain against the glass suddenly increased, turning from a light tap to a full-blown knocking sound accompanied by forceful winds, making the trees sway violently. Liam remained in his daze as he stared blankly into space, but the gentle fall of the paper echoed in his ears as it met the floor, drawing his attention there.

His gaze zeroed in on the message, the illumination from the lightning flashing over it and displaying the consequences of his denial right before his face —

You’re running out of pawns, Your Majesty. Will she be next?

Thanks for reading! 🫶🥰

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