Chapter Five

She glanced at her reflection and frowned. "I look a dreadful sight." Her skin was ghostly pale and her gray eyes stared back at her with a frightened expression. She ran her hand through her dark strands in a detached motion. "I'd scare the dead." Her blood chilled like ice and she shivered at what her words had conjured in her mind. Her hand dropped away from the mirror and she stepped back before turning away and glancing down the hallway.

Darkness loomed in front of her like an endless sea. Glancing to the right of her, she strode the few steps to where she knew the railing would be. She gripped it tight, using it like an anchor to steady her. Looking over the railing gave her a view of her living room below. Her brows drew together. The living room was bathed in darkness, but she distinctly remembered turning on the light as she came into the house. Had the storm caused a fuse to blow?

She took out the torch and scanned the living room. The light shone on her brown and green couch, the cherry wood end table, and finally on the Chippendale chairs, which stood against the far wall. She didn't see anyone lurking in the corners. All was quiet, too damn quiet when she knew her sister and husband were here.

"Liam? Tara?" she called out. "Come on you two, this isn't funny. Where are you?" Why would they play a prank on her? Her sister hated to scare people. She wouldn't even watch a horror flick, claiming she'd have nightmares for months if she did.

Liam was a kind soul, her knight in shining armor. He always worried for her safety. Even if he wanted to play a prank, he wouldn't try to scare her—never like this. He did things to make her laugh.

A memory touched her. He liked magic. He had one trick in particular he loved to do. He would say, "What's that, pretty lass, behind your ear?" He would reach behind her ear and pretend to find a wildflower growing there. Her lips twitched into a smile at the thought of his sweet surprises.

A light glowed to the right of the living room, drawing her attention. "Someone's in the kitchen." Brona raced down the stairs, coming to a sliding halt when she caught sight of the shadows of two people—Liam and Tara. Her sister stepped into Liam's embrace, her fingers spearing into her husband's thick strands as she pressed her lips to his.

Brona froze, her heart rigid and fragile as hand-blown glass. One move, one breath, and it would splinter and break into a million pieces. A prisoner of her own doing, she was forced to watch, transfixed as if a movie played out before her.

Liam pushed Tara away. "We shouldn't. We can't. I can't do this to Brona." Her husband's tortured voice floated back to her.

"How long will you deny yourself?" her sister asked. She sounded hurt and frustrated.

What were they talking about? He can't do what to her? Had her husband and sister been contemplating an affair behind her back? No, they couldn't be. She couldn't believe that.

Brona wanted to cover her ears and close her eyes to shut out the truth, but she was unable to turn away. She remained like a deer caught in the headlights. She knew if she stayed her life as she knew it would be doomed, but she couldn't make her feet move to save herself.

"I can't wait anymore, Liam. It hurts too much to be near you. I'll pack up my things and leave today." Her sister took a step back, but Liam's hand snaked out and grabbed her. He pulled her toward him again so that she lay against his chest.

"No, don't leave."

Brona couldn't miss the desperation she heard in Liam's voice as he pleaded for Tara not to go.

"Please don't leave."

Brona watched in horror as her husband's head lowered to kiss her sister.

Brona covered her mouth with her hand to stifle the scream threatening to break free. Tears burned her eyes. She backed up against the curio cabinet that held the precious knickknacks Liam and she had collected throughout the years.

She turned to look at it. There were castles, knights on horses, and wood fairies. One knickknack in particular caught her eye. She choked back a sob as she opened the door. The glass rattled in the frame. She reached in and gently touched the wings of the redheaded fairy with the green and gold dress. Liam had bought her the fairy for her last birthday.

"I love you, my sweet lass," he had told her.

"Liar!" In a blind rage, she grabbed the fairy and hurled it against the far wall.

"What was that?" Tara asked from the kitchen entrance.

Brona gasped in horror. She wasn't ready to face her husband and sister and the terrible secret they kept. She raced back upstairs. They had to know she was here. It was pouring rain outside. Surely they didn't believe she was still on her walk. How did they think they could keep their affair a secret when they were so blatantly displaying it? She ran into the bathroom, slamming the door and locking it. She leaned against the wall and sank to the floor. She let the tears fall freely. The two people she loved most in her life had betrayed her.

"This is a nightmare," she said between sobs of despair.

One of them tapped on the door, and then rattled the knob.

"Go away!" Brona cried, a warning lacing her words.

"It's locked," Tara said from the other side of the door.

"Of course it's locked, you bloody cheat!" Brona shouted and wiped away angry tears. "Just go away."

"I'll get something to open it," Liam said. She heard the two lovers walk away, their footsteps receding as they headed back downstairs.

Brona came to her feet. She wanted to get out of there before they came back up and witnessed her complete melt down. Why couldn't they leave her alone? She gripped the sink for support and looked in the mirror. Wild, bloodshot eyes added to her frightening appearance.

"Well Brona, how did you expect to look after finding out your husband is shagging your sister?" Tears welled in her eyes again. "Damn." She yanked a few tissues from the flowered tissue box. Foam green and peach were the colors of the bathroom. Seashells and beach scenes adorned the walls and a mermaid shower curtain hung over the tub.

She blew her nose. She took a deep breath, reminding herself she didn't want Tara and Liam to see her like this. She tossed the tissues into the wastebasket. She opened the door and poked her head out into the hall. She caught sight of Liam and Tara coming up the stairs. She hurried out, intending to head to the bedroom. The lock on that door would be harder to pick.