He’s being sweet.
It doesn’t matter, I tell myself. I can’t be with him. He’ll never belong to me. Besides, how could we even be together? He’s my enemy. What do I expect him to do? Renounce his membership to the gang that raised him? The gang that he thinks of as his family? All those psychos and skull masks, they’re his brothers and sisters. They’d do anything for him, and he’d do the same for them. I don’t know much, but I know enough to know that family is everything. I can barely have a conversation with my father, and I’m still ready to take on all of Fraternitas simply because they threatened him.
Even if Kaiser was willing to leave Fraternitas, what would we do? Run away? Live on a farm? I imagine Kaiser as a farm boy, tilling the fields. Like my father did when my mother was alive.
Even in my imagination, the picture is weird.
So I let the fantasy die, like everything else. I imagine a cold, winter field. All life is hidden under the soil. I imagine it until I feel frozen.
Is this how my father feels? Is this how he keeps from letting his emotions show?
The night of the engagement party arrives all too soon. I wear an elegant gown that’s so dark green it looks black. The designer dress and my full face of makeup feel like armor. On the drive over, I’m lost in my thoughts. I wonder what happens when I enact my plan of vengeance. If I do what I’m about to do, many people will die. That’s what I want, right? The Vesuvios and Fraternitas locked in a bitter struggle.
Except… I don’t want Kaiser to die. I have to make sure that he stays safe. I should be one hundred percent focused on what I’m about to do, but I can’t be. I’m worried about Kaiser. I need him to be okay. I don’t want anyone to touch a single hair on his pretty blond head.
I care about him. He means something to me, and I want to protect him. How can I do that and still be a supervillain?
“Bella,” Kaiser’s calling my name. “We’re here.” I realize we’re parked outside the senator’s house.
I take a deep breath. Showtime.
“Where did you go?” he asks me softly.
“I’m here.” I try to put on a smile, but it slips away.
“No, you’re not.” He almost sounds sad. “You went somewhere. I wish you’d come back. Come back to me.”
Don’t leave me, I hear my childhood self scream. I slam the door shut on the memory.
“I’m here. I’m fine.”
He looks at me like he knows I’m lying.
I can’t look at him too long. The sadness on his beautiful face… it weakens me. I wish I could reassure him. Make him feel better.
“You don’t have to fight me, Bella,” he says, but I do. I do.
“I’m not fighting,” I lie. “I’m going to marry you. That’s what everyone wants.”
“I want you to be happy.”
There’s nothing to say to that, so I pull down the mirror and reapply my lipstick. “How do I look?”
“Beautiful. You always look beautiful.”
“Do you have the ring?” I keep my voice brisk.
He pulls out the black velvet box, then hesitates.
“You don’t have to do this,” he says.
I stare at him. Is he serious?
We’re parked outside a grand mansion in the most expensive part of Metropolis. We’re about to shake hands with a senator and his crowd, and then announce to everyone the date of our wedding.
“I thought tonight was important,” I say. “You’re going to meet later with the Vesuvios and plan a truce.” He told me St. James spent weeks trying to get the Vesuvios to sit down and plan a ceasefire between Fraternitas and them. They finally agreed to send a few representatives to the engagement party. Tonight.
“Yes.” But he looks troubled.
