MasukMariella’s POVWith the current series of events, I was rather confused. I felt like Luciano was hiding stuff from me. I didn't like the feeling of not knowing what was happening around me. My kids seemed to have returned to normal, though, thank goodness. I stood on the balcony, overlooking the entire estate. The guards and their dogs patrolled the perimeter outside. Even without being too observant, anyone could see a sharp increase in the number of CCTV cameras. Yet despite all this, I felt uneasy. I hadn't felt this uneasy since the last time I was at the convent. I desperately wanted to know what was going on. Was Marcello alive or not? There was one way for me to find out, a way I had promised myself to stop using. I stared at my gloved hands. Visions were rare occurrences for me now, not because I had lost my powers. But because I had determined not to use them. All those accidental brushes and touches? Gone for the most part. Luciano had bought me gloves so that I could int
Luciano’s POVBy morning…Marcello De Luca was dead again. At least, that’s what I was about to tell the world. The Commission chamber was full. Every seat was occupied, and every pair of eyes watched me, waiting. They had all heard something, not everything. But enough. In our world, rumors move fast. Really fast.I sat at the head of the table, calm and composed as ever. I needed to be. I couldn't let them see doubt or hesitation in me. It would cause a panic. For me to keep them under control, I needed to radiate an air of certainty and power even in the midst of the rumors. “Let's address the nonsense first,” I said, the room going silent. Greco leaned forward slightly.“There are whispers,” he said carefully.“Of course there are,” I shrugged. Ricci spoke next. “They say Marcello is alive,” he said, pausing and gauging my reaction. I gave him nothing, and then he continued. “They say he's back.”A heavy silence followed, filled with expectancy. I let it sit for a moment, leanin
Luciano’s POVI don’t believe in ghosts. I never did, not even as a child. I was raised to believe in facts, things that could be measured and verified independently of my feelings or beliefs. I didn't believe in Santa Claus, the tooth fairy, cupid, hell, I didn't even believe in God. The only law that guided me was that of cause and effect. Every action leaves a trace. Every move has a source.That’s how you survive in my world. That’s how you stay alive. So when something doesn’t make sense…you don't panic. You simply find out what's behind it and kill it. ---By morning, the entire estate was under scrutiny. I didn't trust anyone. I stood in the security room, watching the feeds cycle across the monitors, all the hallways, staircases, and entry points. Nothing went without my notice. If there was someone here working with Marcello, I would definitely find the person.Jose sat behind me, spinning slowly in a chair.“I’m just saying,” he muttered, “if this turns out to be some para
Mariella’s POVNo one slept that night. No one could. The mansion was quiet, but it wasn’t the peaceful kind of quiet. It was the weird kind of quiet that seemed to listen back. I sat at the edge of the twins’ bed, watching them. Antonio had insisted the lights stay on — could I blame him? I was scared, too. Elena, on the other hand, hadn’t said anything. But she hadn't opposed the suggestion either. That alone told me enough. They were both afraid, and so was I. Antonio shifted under the blanket, his small hand clutching the edge of my dress like if he let go, something would take me away.“Mama,” he whispered.“Yes, sweetie?”He hesitated. Then....“He’s still here,” he whispered. I felt my chest tighten. “Antonio…”“I can feel it, Mama.” He said. I smoothed his hair gently.“It’s just your imagination, honey,” I said. “Your Dad and Uncle Jose are handling the situation. No one can get past them, you know that, right?”He nodded. But even as I said it, the words felt wrong. Beca
Luciano’s POVThe hallway was empty, too empty. My footsteps echoed softly against the marble as I moved through the mansion.Behind me, there was silence, and ahead of me, there was also silence, a very unnerving silence. There were no alarms, no gunfire, no signs of forced entry anywhere. And yet...Antonio had said someone was inside. And he wasn't one to just make stuff up. Neither was Elena. If he said it, it had to be true. I reached the main stairwell and paused, picking up my comm. “Report.”“All entry points are secure, sir,” a guard’s voice answered immediately.“The windows?”“All sealed, sir.” “And the perimeter?” I asked. “We've double checked it, sir. It's all clear.” I stared down the long corridor, and everything was exactly as it should be. Naturally, I should have felt some relief. But instead, I had this uneasy feeling inside, like something was wrong. “Check internal positions,” I said. There was a brief pause, and then the intercom crackled —“Sir… all inte
Mariella’s POVThe house didn’t feel the same anymore. Ever since that strange chess piece entered this house, the energy shifted, very subtly. If you didn’t know what to look for, you wouldn’t notice it.The guards were still at their posts. The cameras still blinked quietly in the corners. The staff still moved through the halls with the same practiced efficiency. Everything looked normal, on the outside. But underneath it…Something had shifted. Something major. It felt kind of like the air before a storm.I stood in the twins’ bedroom doorway, watching them sleep. Antonio was sprawled across the bed like he had fought a war in his dreams and won. One arm flung over his head, the blankets kicked halfway to the floor.Elena slept differently, still and almost statuesque. She had her hands folded near her chest like she was listening to something even in her dreams. I stepped inside slowly, and for a moment, I just stood there.Watching them, the two most precious things in the world







