All gone.
All that was left was a few scraggly longer pieces. The rest was sticking in all directions, too short to tame down unless I wet them. Even then, I wasn’t sure if they would cooperate.
Régine was right, though. The measly strands couldn’t fight the wig once it was over my head.
Of course.
She was letting me know she controlled that too. Even my hair would have to submit to her demands.
I stuck my hand in the vanity’s drawer, found the watch my mom had attached to my wrist when she had left me here, and started pressing the button.
Click.
Please come for me.
Click.
Please. Please. Please.
Click.
I miss you so much.
Click. Click. Click.
I clicked until I didn’t think it was safe anymore to continue. Then I climbed into bed and stared at the ceiling, wishing I could make a wish on a star, but it was the same theme as my life.
This world had trapped me in a bottle. I had no sky to call home.
If this was a sign of things to come…this phoenix might never rise again, and all that would be left of me would be ashes.
Chapter 4
Matteo
The sound of clanging swords echoed inside of my head, the reverberations coming back to me transformed into grunts. The smell of a wet penny and salt floated through my memories—blood. My hands clenched into fists, and it took all my restraint not to pace the length of the fucking plane. The sounds and smell brought me back to the mock sword fights I’d had with my brothers and cousins before we left Germany for France.
Fighting with swords transported me to a simpler place and time, a time where men fought over respect, honor, and—the most romantic reason of all—a woman.
My heart desired to kill in her name.
Stella.
My veins danced to the rhythm of her blood.
Stella.
My soul had decided she was the one I’d sacrifice my flesh and bones to protect.
She.
Stella.
My mind had decided that she was mine—I’d heard it and accepted it.
Stella Fausti.
She’d be my wife, my forever in physical form, but first, I had to fight for her. To release her from the cage the Nemours had stuck her in. And even though I hated to admit it, whatever it was that touched my mamma had touched me too, and I knew without a shadow of a fucking doubt that my star was fading.
