one month later...

The fire roared in the fireplace and the sunset painted the ocean outside the exposed window. Putting her needlework down, Grace looked over at the bed and let out a sigh. She stood up and left her work on her chair. Moving across the room, she took a seat on the edge of the bed and looked down at the woman still in a coma. Her fingers slid along the soft skin on the woman's face and she brushed the golden hair back.

"I wish you would wake. Everyone is frightened you won't."

She watched the woman for a few minutes and looked over at the closed door.

"Trevor and Kara are holding up as expected. The servants keep it quiet and the place feels dead. The people in the valley are working day and night on fixing up their home since that fight."

Her voice cracked and she took a deep breath. Regaining control of her emotions, she looked down at Eve and let out one more sigh.

"I don't see my cousin anymore. No one has seen much of him around here. I'm frightened that he has snapped."

Her hand caught one of the cool ones on the bed and she placed her other hand on top.

"He needs you Eve. If you can hear me, please wake up before we lose both of you."

She slowly released the woman's hand and stood. Walking back to her chair, she picked up her needlework and took her previous position. The fire continued to crackle and someone knocked on the door. She looked up and watched Abigail enter. The elder woman had lost some weight and looked frail from her worry.

"How is she?"

Grace shook her head and heard "I was afraid of that."

The woman caught the door handle and Grace asked "My cousin?"

Abigail looked back at her and said "I haven't seen him today."

The woman left without another word and Grace glanced out the window. The sunset was nearly gone and she closed her eyes. Rubbing the bridge of her nose, she climbed to her feet and walked to the door. She stepped into the hallway and pull the door shut. Quietly she released the handle and moved down the hall to her room.

The East Wing became deadly silent once more and the sun disappeared below the ocean. The air cooled off and the waves settled into quiet songs. A small rock skipped over the dark water and sank. The waves swept slowly over the sand and back into the water. Taking a deep breath, he turned his brown eyes up to the castle and found most of the lights out.

He rose to his feet and brushed his pants off. Another breeze ran over his face and he made his way to the kitchen door. Pushing it open, he slid inside and shut the door. No one was moving about and he made his way through the first floor to the stairwell. Each step was quiet and he stopped on the landing.

His eyes looked at his shut doors and then he glanced down at the West Wing. He walked through the quiet wing and stopped outside Kara's room. The light was out and he pushed the door open enough to look in. The child wasn't in her bed and he moved to Trevor's room. The boy was sound asleep in his bed and Jonathan pulled the door shut.

He walked to the library and found it empty and dark. Looking back down the hall, he moved to Eve's empty room and stopped just inside the door. Kara was curled up on the bed asleep and he bit back a sigh. Silently he moved to the bed and lifted the child into his arms. She curled closer to him as he carried her back to her room.

Gently he laid her on her bed and covered her for the night. The child rolled onto her side and he moved back to the door. He pulled it shut and felt eyes on him. Looking down the hall, he saw the glowing eyes and joined the quiet dog. They walked through the dead castle and entered the East Wing.

He pulled his door open and Tanner walked inside. He shut the door behind them and watched the dog climb gingerly onto the bed. He moved up the bed and nudged the woman. A quiet whine escaped the hound and Jonathan walked to his window. He took a seat on the window sill and looked out at the starlit sky.

Tanner settled at the end of the bed and closed his eyes. The room fell quiet as he looked outside and his eyes began to drift closed. His head rested against the wall and he drifted into another night of light sleep and twisted dreams.

Lights glared against his eyes and he slowly opened them. He found himself standing in the middle of the library and hears laughter. Looking at the door, he leaves the room and walks swiftly down the hall. The laughter was growing distant and he quickened his pace. Running down the stairs after the sound, he looks in the parlor and finds it empty.

"There you are."

Stopping, he looks behind him and sees his sister.

"What's the matter?"

His voice remains gone and she catches his hand.

"Come play with me."

He feels his feet comply with her and they move outside. The sun shines down on them and he stops walking. His sister is gone and he runs his eyes over the front court. Solomon trots into view with his father in the saddle and the man waves for him to join them. He stays in place and the man shakes his head.

"You can't expect to have your way Son."

His eyes narrow and he bites back a curse. The man laughs and he looks away.

"Don't look so stern."

He looks back in front of him and sees his mother. She takes his hand and pulls him down the path to a bench. The woman sits next to him and looks him over.

"You look so lost. You know what you are searching for."

He looks back at her and hears the musical laughter again. Standing, he glances back at his mother and follows the sound back into the castle. He moves through the dining hall and into the kitchen. Oric looks up at him and smirks.

"Still looking for something?"

He glances at the cook and the man laughs as he turns his back on him. Frowning, he leaves the kitchen and moves up the stairwell. He walks to his room and pulls the door open. The darkness envelopes him as he shuts the door and looks around. He approaches the bed and his eyes lay on the woman's sleeping face.

He runs his hand through her soft golden hair and hears a knock from behind him.

Opening his eyes, he finds the sun looking down at him and shakes the sleep off. He slides to his feet and looks at the bed. Tanner opens one eye as he approached and rubbed the dog's ear. His brown gaze shifts to her and his hand slid through her hair. Another knock caught his ear and he moves to the door.