Chapter Twenty-Six

"Better lock it in your pocket, taking this one to the grave."

I sat looking into Serena's eyes, she was still tearing up, but I wasn't giving in. My mother told us to go on without her, that Calston would let her borrow his carriage to arrive home, they needed to talk about some details. I looked down before I spoke, "Why Serena?"

'Why what?" She hissed at me, not moving her body.

"Why kill Lucas?"

"You think I killed him?" She laughed, and looked at me.

"I know you had something to do with it."

"I won't tell you anything." I hissed under my breathe as she turned away.

"I will take care of it, Camille." Sebastian whispered, and patted my hand. I nodded, watching her. She was acting to strange, and I wanted this to end. I watched as the scenery beside us rusehd by, and I kept listening to Serena. She was mummbling something, and Sebastian watched her mouth carefully. When we arrived at the estate, I got out of the carriage, leaving Sebastian and Serena be. I made my way into the house, removing my cape and gloves.

I sat in the parlor, waiting as Sebastian entered the room. "Serena is being taken back to her estate, I got as much information as I could."

"What is it?" I set up fast, feeling my head rush.

"Serena's family lost all their wealth... about a year ago. They were slowly loosing it before that. Once she returned from school, they saw an oppurtunity, with Mr. Calston. They believed they could use his plan, to manipulate the two most powerful families. Yours, and the Madisons." He shook his head, "Her father, used her to sleep with Calston to gain information, which led her to fall for him. Along with that, she was still to wed Lucas. But after she threatened you, it ruined plans a little too much. You told Lucas, which led him to question her..."

"Which means what?" I was proccessing through everything, listening to him speak.

"Whuch lead to, Lucas' death. Calston planned it, with Serena's approval and help. She thought it would mean they could be together. But you were still in the way, she was hoping to kill you next. Henry wouldn't have it. He wanted you alive, looked better for apperances." He shook his head.

"She wanted to kill me?" I was listening, but not fully understanding.

"Why did they loose their money?" He looked at me, and I nodded. "Because her father became very interested in hookers, and gambling. While her mother, she choose wealthy things. Serena was forced into a life she never knew to maintain the spot on the ladder."

"You feel sorry for her!" I growled.

"I feel sorry for what Calston did to her. And what it means he could do to you, if we don't end this soon." He was shaking.

"What did he do to her?"

'You don't need to know..." He looked at me, and touched my arm. "I won't let it happen to you."

"Thank you," I smiled at him, as I went to move toward him, a knock rang through the house. Sebastian moved toward the door.

"Stay there." He looked at me, and I nodded. He opened the door, 'Hello, Mr. Madison. I am sorry for your loss."

"Thank you, Mr. Lowry. Is Camille here?"

"Yes, follow me, can't be to safe, understand?"

"I can." Mr. Madison followed Sebastian into the parlor, and I smiled at him, "Camille."

"Mr. Madison." I hugged him, "I am so sorry."

"I am to, Camille."

"Why are you?"

"Because..." He looked stressed, and confused. "I am the reason, my own son is dead. I knew what Serena's family wanted, and we all know what Calston wants. But I pressured him to do it. Cutting all ties to you, and I wouldn't let him explain to you, till it was too late. I thought it would save us, that's what I told him. Then him and her fell in love, and I thought it was real. But apparently it wasn't." He was choking back tears.

"It's not your fault, Mr. Madison." I touched his arm.

"Here he wanted you to have this Camille." It was a letter with my name on the envolope.

"Thank you, Mr. Madison." I took the letter, and held it against my heart.

"I am going to go, I must be with my wife and daughter at this time, but I had to confess that to you," He touched my face. "I will always be here for you, Camille." He looked away, "I couldn't save your father, nor my son. I hope this ends soon."

"It will, Mr. Madison." I smiled, and hugged him, before watching him disappear.

I sat down on the sofa, curling my legs under my body, opening up the letter.

Camille Prim Braxton,

If your are reading this... the worse has happened. And i am so sorry if you found out in the wrong way. I know you are probably heart broken, but I am sorry. I am sorry I didn't believe you. But I wanted to find out for myself. You were right, Serena was up to no good. Neither is Calston... but you knew this. She threatened if I left to kill Rose. But if you are reading this, she killed me. Or I disappered. My father always knew she was dangerous, but wanted to protect everyone. But this wasn't the way to do it. I am so sorry, for the heart ache, the tears, the lies, and everything else Camille. You will always be my first love. But I know that you will always belong to someone else. I don't know who yet, but I believe I do know who. He will protect you, the ways I couldn't. I love you, with all my heart. I will till my last breathe and beyond.

Goodbye,

Lucas Madison

I let the letter fall to the ground, and felt the tears falling down my face. I couldn't help it at this point. Sebastian appeared in the room, picking up the letter. I watched as he scanned through it, and nodded before folding it back up putting it in the envolope. "I am sorry." He sat beside me, putting his arm around me, "But you are safe, I won't let them hurt you."

"I know, but we have to finish this. I have to finish this." He touched my arm, and held tighter as tears fell down my face.

"I know, and we will. I won't let this go in vein, Camille. Lucas knew what he was doing when he confronted her... But she choose the path that would end his life, and destroy her life."

"She will go down, but most of all these lies and secrets spreading through this web of high soceity, I will destroy it." I was growling. Thinking of my threat to Calston. He agreed to it, scared for his life for once.

"I know, and I am with you, but we have to have the right angle to approach this Camille." He stood up, leaving me lifeless on the couch. He paced in front of me, seeming to trying to put pieces together. I sat there, holding the letter. "What do you want out of this?"

"I want this to end." I looked him the eye, "I want this taken down."

He nodded, and began to pace again. "We can do this."

"I know we can, just need to figure out how and where to begin."

"Your wedding."

"I will not wed him!" I growled.

"No. You just plan it. Then there will be a society party. That is where it will start, and hopefully end."

"You want me to plan and make everyone think I will marry such a wicked man."

"Yes." Sebastian held a staight face. "I am the last person to want to see you marry any other man. But it's the only way to save your life." He touched my face, kissing me deeply.

I lifted my feet, kissing him back, "I will do it."

"Thank you, Camille." He moved a piece of hair from my face, "This will end soon. I promise, and I will make everything safe and perfect again."

"Do you want to see it, what is causing all of this?"

"The Ring of the Sea?"

"Yes." I pulled the chain, letting it fall in front of my chest. Sebastian touched it, and spun it in his fingers.

"It's as beautiful as I thought it would be." He looked into my eye, "Now I know why it's worth so much. But I still haven't figured out one piece to everything. We know the threats, the reason why for them, the power of this ring. But how did your father come across this?" He looked me in the eye.

"I have no idea, but whatever he did to get it, people knew. And they knew he had it..." I looked at the ring, and touched it. Wondering what my father came to have it.