It takes a while for the grass to turn brown and the glass to become opaque.

-THEO

Caleb Parks' POV

After Jack and Taryn left my room, I had a shower and lay on my bed.

My brain chooses this moment to punish me by replaying all the memories with Peyton. I can't bring myself to cry about it.

Even if I know she may not admit it, she fixed me in more ways than one. Thanks to her, I can reminisce about my adopted parents and not feel sad. I can allow the memories I have had locked up in me to flow like a river and nothing feels offsetting.

But you know the irony of this?

This girl wormed her way into my heart even when I swore I wouldn't fall; she had me and saw all of me.

The parts I swore no one would know existed, she saw them, and she helped me a lot. It's sad to say it, but I'm still clueless about why she won't just tell me what this Empire is about, and it's not like I can just Google it and get my answers.

I groan and run my hand through my hair. Even with a thousand miles between us, she still manages to frustrate me.

Gail walked into the room in joggers and a loose-fitting shirt. She walked closer to me and laid on my body, her head on my stomach at a ninety-degree angle.

"Where's Peyton?"I freeze up when her question gets out.

I try to play it out and stroke her hair, "What makes you ask that?"

She shrugs, "I was supposed to go for a run with her in the gym, but I can't find her. And no one will tell me where she is."

Only if she knew.

It's one thing to be hurt by it; it's another thing to allow her to get hurt because of it.

So as I described the whereabouts of our parents, I say. "She said something about visiting a friend. I'm sure she'll be back soon."

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from wincing when Gail looks at me with her bright green eyes bulging out as if taunting me to tell her the truth.

I almost let out a joyful cry when Taryn walks in one of Jack's beat-up sweaters and a pair of leggings.

"So I can see that Jack has welcomed you back properly." I couldn't tone down my smug look as I directed my attention to the spitfire that walked into the room.

With a glare that could freeze hell over, Taryn said, "We are all heading out."

"We?"

"Yes. You, Jack, and Jacob are heading off to the studio to talk with Marcel about what the hell is going on while Shawn, Gail and I are at the orphanage."

I got off the bed and followed the girls out of the room.

"What about Marci?"

"What about me?" She appeared at the bottom of the stairs, dressed in one of my old faded black shirts and black shorts.

I came to stand in front of her and look at her. To an outsider, she would look fine, but as her older brother, I could see the unusual deadness of her eyes. I choose not to comment about it in front of everyone. It's not really my place to say.

I pulled her into a hug, and she wrapped her hands around my waist, but the hug felt cold.

"What are you doing today?" I ask her when I pull out of the hug.

"I don't feel like going out, so Nate is coming over."

I can already feel the extra set of eyes scowling at her, and let's not forget to count mine.

"I'm not too sure that that's a good idea."

For the second time today, I am questioning my second sister's sanity.

She shrugs as if it's not a big deal, "It's fine, and Giá will also be here with Lucas."

"It's not really heartwarming when the boys are the same amount as the girls." Jack looks at her sceptically.

At that exact moment, the elevator dinged, and the doors opened. A grim-looking Nate, an excited-looking Giá and a boy with a neutral look on his face. I'm just going to be like Sherlock and assume that he is Lucas.

"Caleb!" Giá screeched as she ran towards me and wrapped her hands around my waist.

"Small world, eh?" I grin at her and return the hug.

Now without the heavy makeup, she wore on her birthday, I can finally take in her features, but I can't give it my whole focus because I have other pressing matters.

"Can you guys excuse us for a moment?" I say to no one in particular as I pull Marci into the corridor across the kitchen and into the music room.

"I thought we agreed that none of your friends will be allowed here unless it's only Nate, and someone has to be around." I gritted out.

I was getting angry because the last thing I needed to deal with was high schoolers running the halls of my penthouse.

Marci rolled her eyes and scoffed, "If you haven't noticed, the only stranger there is Lucas. I mean, Nate has been here many times, and Giá is Marcel's niece which makes her my cousin. Didn't you perform for her quinceañera? While Lucas is not even a fan of yours. No need to worry about your house turning into a mob."

"I'm not worried about the house Marcella. I'm worried about you, I know you have your way of dealing with things, but I don't want you to allow your peers to make you go down a destructive path."

"I'm not gonna get a tat till I go into a college, and I think we both know that I have already gotten drunk before. Drugs freak me out, so you have nothing to worry about, but if you want me to rather stay alone in the house, fine by me." She sighed.

I disagree with the part about her getting a tattoo, but it's not like I can keep her safe from everything.

She was playing the guilty card. You know that card where your siblings have to agree to your wishes because the consequences will be dire if they don't.

Why do I feel something will go down if I don't agree to this?

I looked heavenward, "Please don't make me regret this."

She put on a sly smile and said, "Now, when have I ever let you down."

-

I told them not to venture up the stairs and go into any other room besides Marci's, the kitchen and the arcade.

Nate and I exchanged a few words, and he promised to take care of her.

The presses were calm today, which was off because it was Sunday morning. I like to call it 'the day where everyone is free and wants to get all up in my business.'

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A reporter tried to get a hold of Gail, but one glare from all of us had a few of them back up. You can probe and poke all you like at me or my life, but I draw the line where you want to tamper with the people I call family.

The minivan dropped Gail, Shawn and Taryn at the orphanage before taking us to the studio.

We leave for NYC in a week, so the dancers and I will master our moves for the performance.

The practice was gruelling, but I know it will all be worth it. Marcel walked into the dance and motioned for me when rehearsal was over.

I followed him from the dance hall to his office. It looked dusty as if he hadn't stepped into it for a while.

Not that I would blame him. If the woman I was crazy about got married to me and had a kid with me, I wouldn't want her to leave. The woman I'm crazy about is in another state so that is hypocritical of me. I have no expertise in the world of love, but I know when the woman you love walks out of your life, things tend to spiral out of control.

"Boy, we need to talk." He said as he made me sit in a chair in front of his desk while he sat on the chair behind it.

"Is this about the trip to NYC?"

"Did I ever tell you how I grew up?"

I furrow my brows, "You were raised by a family of Hispanics who helped you discover your love for music."

"Yeah, about that. That is true, but it's partially a lie."

"I'm not following."

"Are you familiar with the Empire, the British empire?"

"Not sure if it is the British Empire, but Peyton mentioned coming from an Empire, but you already know that." I pause to scrutinize him. "What did you do, Marcel?"

He rolled his eyes and scoffed, "If you think she went back because of me, then you are far from the truth. I have something to tell you; you have to promise me that you will make it there in time."

I offer him a nod.

"Sam Griffin is the man in charge of the Empire, he handed part of it to Troy Reynold Griffin two and a half decades ago, but Sam still holds the Empire by its reins. He ruled with an iron fist but went into hiding following the death of his daughter, Faith Margret Griffin."

"Not to sound insensitive, but how does this point out why Peyton left me or your origin?"

"Because son, Troy and Faith are Peyton's parents. Troy was my best friend while Faith was my former lover. Sam was her grandfather, the man who killed my parents."

I remain speechless and try to absorb what Marcel is saying, but he takes my silence as a cue to continue with his story.

"You see, Caleb. The British Empire is run under someone who bears the surname; Griffin. Hence why Peyton knows about it. She and her twin sister are meant to reign after their father, Troy. They are known for making Deals; all deals come at a cost, but they aren't the ones that fit the bill. Some people lose themselves to the place; they forget their purpose and make it their sole mission to make it grow no matter who gets hurt.

The British from there are somehow racial. If you're not white or have a straight British surname, you don't belong there."

I finally find my voice and ask the first thing that comes to mind, "Then how did you grow up there?"

He chuckled and looked away, "That, my boy is a good question. I only spent my early childhood there. I had to leave when my family was slaughtered for insubordination. The reason why no one questioned Sam's decision was because we're not the same colour as him and the rest of the asshats that live there."

"If that were the case, how are you still here?"

"Faith struck a deal with her father; if he kills me, then she dies with me. She was the next and only heir of the Empire, so her death was not an option. So I was made to leave and not return. I ended up here where a group of Hispanics found me and raised me up further."

"Okay, now that we know what happened to you, how does this affect Peyton exactly?"

"I thought I was helping someone that was not daft. In the Empire, a man is meant to rule, in other words, they made Faith marry Troy against her will, but she didn't know. I told her and lost my family in the process," His voice starts cracking, "Now that there are two girls, it's either one rules while being forced to marry a man she doesn't like."

"Then what of the other twin? What if one refused to get married?"

"Then Boy, death will be the only way to sign the holy matrimony."

I sigh and take it all in.

It was starting to make sense, but I knew that some loose ends still needed to be tied. A blond girl with blue eyes might just be my answer.

I turn to look at Marcel, "So what happens now?"

He chewed his lip, "You can either get on with your life like Peyton intended you to or..."

"Or what?" I asked him expectantly.

"We could go to the Empire."

"Are you really ready to face the people of your past just for me to get some answers?"

I found myself looking at Marcel with a new degree of respect.

It takes a lot for someone to go back to a place where he is wanted dead, but he wanted to do it for me.

I had some questions, but the most obvious one is; why can't she leave?

I mean, the place sounds toxic, and if I know Marcel as well as I do. He obviously left out some parts from the description.

Maybe if I convinced her to leave, we could be together? I could finally have that happy picture that has been haunting me recently.

"The truth about life, boy. Is that you are never ready to face your demons. You just don't want them to catch you off guard."

I surprise him by throwing my hand around his shoulders and giving him a hug, "Thank you."

He tapped my back and murmured something.

"Caleb!" Taryn chose this moment to walk in.

We quickly separated and looked at my ghetto friend sporting a wide grin.

"Unless you want Jack to be living in that mouth of yours, I suggest you wipe that smile right off," Marcel says.

She rolls her eyes at him, "Nice to see you too, Marcel." Then she turned her attention to me, "Choose Jack or Jacob; who is hotter?"

I looked upward and groaned, "Please do not drag me into this."

She laughed, "You dragged yourself into this when you were having a field day in his arms." She gestured her arms to Marcel, who immediately sent a scowl in her direction.

I turn to look at him, "So when do we leave?"

"Now, if we want to stop that wedding-"

"Where are we going?" Taryn asked, clearly out of the loop while interrupting Marcel, making his scowl grow deeper.

"Are you and Marci going to come along?"

At the mention of his daughter, a grimace appeared on his face. "Nope, I think I'll go to your place to talk with her. One day I'll go, but that day is not today."

"Oi, Fellas, where are we going?" Taryn waved around to grab our attention.

"Trish, we are going to the Bahamas," Marcel told her, a satisfied glint in his eye when Taryn glared at him.

-

"So, what exactly is the plan here?" Jack asked.

The plane just took off from the airport. Jacob and Shawn are already passed out while Taryn busies herself by playing with Jack's stubble.

"Simple, find Peyton and you two ride off into the sunset." Jack and I snorted at Taryn's answer.

Jack looked down, "If it were that simple, Trish, we wouldn't be on this plane right now, would we?" He chastises her.

She rolled her eyes and muttered whatever.

"Honestly, I don't have one. Marcel said that a friend of his will meet us there and take us to where we will find the Empire." I stated.

"Interesting, Jack. Can you go away?" Taryn asked sweetly.

And like a reflexive action, Jack wrapped his hands around her, successfully caging her on his lap.

Taryn blew a fluff of her hair back, "I suggest you get your grubby hands off me! Before I kick your small ray of sunshine."

I grinned.

I missed this. Now, if I can get Marcel to install a small microwave up here before we leave for NYC.

"I just want to talk to Caleb, not jump out of the plane. Although that would be more appealing than staying in your arms." She said in a sickly sweet tone.

Jack looked from her to me as if still deciding. Taryn huffed and used her small size to her advantage. She wiggled out of his hold and straddled my lap.

Jack's gaze grew furious while I snorted, "If a temper tantrum is arising, I'd have to remind you that we are thousands of miles in the air. You have no place to dispose of my dead body."

He rolled his eyes and went to sit in the cockpit with the pilot.

Taryn turned her attention to me, "I think I'll like this Peyton girl when I meet her."

"Do I want to even know why?"

She began playing with my nonexistent stubble. "For starters, I never thought I would live to see the day you will become sassy."

I rolled my eyes at her observation, and a grin broke onto her face, "My point exactly."

"Now that Mister Grumpy's pants are out of earshot, I think it's time that you and I had a talk, Cally."

I winced at the nickname I thought was once forgotten. A round of applause to three-year-old Gail.

"Now, when you finally have her in your grasp, I hope you know that a kiss that will make her ovaries fall out of her ass is needed." She gave me a questioning look.

"I can see you and your boyfriend share the same brain."

She faked a gasp, "If I ever were to share a brain, it would be that of Shawn's. You can't tell me that you wouldn't be able to do better than that kiss in the music room?"

I remained silent because I knew when Taryn was in one of her talkative moods, it was best for her to just talk it out.

"And let's not forget about that stubborn cherry of yours, honey, it has got to go. I don't know if I'll have to tie you two to a bed and barricade all the entries, but I'm not making any promises. I hate to break it to you, pal, but if she is not a first-timer, I suggest you let her lead the way."

"Hmmm, are you done now?"

She raised a brow as if I did dare to interrupt her monologue.

"And finally, if she is not moaning your name at a volume that could rival mine when I am with Jack, then your bestie is doing a fucking horrible job." She pinched my cheeks as if I were a toddler.

"Remind me again why I am your best friend again?"

Another fake gasp in the air, "You take that back right now, or I will tell Jack that you kissed me," She threatened.

I rolled my eyes, "Last time I checked, you tried to do that in the second year, and you couldn't walk well for a week."

"Touché," She looked at me with narrowed eyes.

"But on a more serious note. If you love this girl, please have sex with her. So that I know I have completed my job on momma earth." She moaned as she dropped her head onto my shoulder.

Like a caveman, Jack came out of the cockpit and glared at the position he saw Taryn and me in.

"Taryn, do you remember how it felt to not walk for a week?" An evil grin took over my face while she nodded.

"Seems like that feeling might just pay you another visit before this plane lands," I wrapped my hands around her waist to hug her as the glare on Jack's face got heated.