The sky beyond the window at the end of this long hallway is turning grey.A new day is dawning.Should be a day of victory of celebration.Because I’m one step closer to avenging my own family and getting back everything that was stolen from me.But in reality, the light is just cold and sad, as all grey mornings are.
Gianna was my last link to the man I could’ve been.The man I was before everything was taken from me.
And now she’s been taken too.Even though she’s lying just beyond the thick doors I’m leaning against.Even though she’s mine for the taking now.Mine to do with as I please.
Chapter6
GIANNA
The most beautifulautumn day is unfolding outside.And the garden around this huge mansion that is my prison now is the perfect backdrop for it to play out in.Everything’s lush and green and so overgrown that a Halloween party out there would be an event.Some of the trees are already turning those wonderful fall hues of orange and red.
It’s something straight out of a fairytale, and I’m half expecting a witch or some other magical creature to poke her head out from behind some dark green bush or from around the wide trunk of one of those magnificent oak trees out there.Birds are singing so loudly, I can hear them clearly through the thick glass of the windows.
I woke up when the sun was already high in the sky.Matteo is still sleeping, his silver suit all wrinkled up because he didn’t even bother to take off his shoes, let alone his clothes, before laying down next to me.
I got up as soon as I saw him lying there, before I could even get a good look at him, because I’m afraid looking at him will bring back all the old feelings I had for him.As it is, it feels like they’re bubbling just beneath the surface of this cold black hate I’m trying so hard to hold onto.I want it to become armor that will protect me from everything and everyone who wants to do me harm, that will make sure the curse I put on the man who married my sister sticks, and that will let me avenge my family.
The alcove by the window where I’ve been sitting since I got up is snug and cozy.I can see over and through the trees all the way to the dark blue ocean in the distance.That same ocean that hopefully carried my parents and my sister Lidia to safety last night.
Even if I don’t succeed in getting my own revenge, they’ll bring the calvary and save me and Chiara.That’s probably the better option anyway.Seeing as all I actually know how to do is fall stupidly in love with the wrong man and shop for clothes that I never end up wearing anywhere.
I couldn’t even prevent my little sister from being married off to a tall, dark monster.
I couldn’t even stab Matteo even though his knife is right there, sticking out of his pocket.It’s all black, handle and blade.All I had to do was slip it from his pocket and stab him in the neck with it.Then the sheets would be covered in his blood, and I’d have my revenge.But the thought of doing it made me almost as physically sick as watching my sister get married did yesterday.
I wish the sun wasn’t so very warm and sparkly, I wish the birds didn’t sing so very prettily and I wish I didn’t still have feelings of love for Matteo.
And as though he can feel me thinking his name, he stirs, opening his eyes a little, before realizing I’m not beside him anymore and jerking up to look around the room, his knife in his hand.
“You’re awake,” he says as his eyes finally find me by the window.I wish his gaze didn’t warm me better than the sun ever could.
“I couldn’t sleep,” I say.“But I’m glad you had no trouble doing it after selling me and my sister out and betraying my trust.That must’ve really tired you out.”
I didn’t know my voice could be so cold and so venomous.I sound like one of the villain women in those rom coms I used to spend my days binging.
“Yeah, it would seem so,” he says, the sun gone from his eyes.
Good.He has no business looking at me with that sun in his eyes.Like he cares about me.Like he wants to take care of me.Like he’s worried about me when he doesn’t know where I am.
He gets up and walks across the room, the ancient floorboards creaking beneath his feet.
“I’ll take a shower than I’ll see about some breakfast.”
“I’d prefer to starve that take food from you.”
But I doubt he heard that before slamming the bathroom door behind him so hard the whole room vibrated.
It’s fine.I’ve got a lot more venomous words for him.Because I might never be able to actually take his life.But I can make his life unbearable with words and actions.And curses… he deserves one of those too.
Just as soon as he comes out of the bathroom, I’ll lay one on him too.
Because one way or another, he will forever regret the day he met me.Just as I will always regret the day I met him.And the first thing I’ll do is wipe that sunshine from his eyes.
GIANNA
The bathroom door opens and he comes out, a greyish white towel wrapped around his waist and droplets of water sliding off his wet hair and clinging to his skin.It makes the sad angel on his chest look like she’s crying.
I’ve been rehearsing the words of the curse I’m about to throw at him, wanting to get them just right, wanting the make it as powerful as I can.But seeing him, they grind to a halt in my mind.All thoughts do.
