Livia
Livia furrowed her brows. "Okay, and what's the big deal about that?"
"What's the big deal!" Luca yelled, making Heath flinch from the sudden outburst.
"L-Luca, pl-please d-don't y-yell." Hearing Heath's shaky voice, Luca quickly walked over to him. He had his head down with his hands over his ears, hyperventilating.
Luca quickly embraced him. "Clam down, kiddo. Deep breaths. Your airhead is so sorry."
"Take him to get some fresh air. Then, we will meet you guys in the garage." Asa told them.
As the both of them slowly made their way to the elevators. "Is he okay?" Livia asked.
Asa held his lips in a tight line. "The sentiment of someone being okay is subjective. Everyone has faced something that has impacted their lives, some for good, others for the worst. Do you know that 46% of children under seventeen are exposed to trauma? In addition, 16% of those children develop PTSD, and 4%-7% go underdiagnosed."
"No, I didn't know that, but what does that have to do with Heath?"
"All of us in this room are a part of the 46%, but Heath is part of the 16%. PTSD in children is heavily overlooked. Adults say they are just kids and will get over it someday, but they fail to comprehend the ignorance behind that thought. They were once children who faced trauma never resolved. All the more reasons they should know children notice and remember more than they are given credit for, especially someone like Heath. Hyperthymesia, or highly superior autobiographical memory, has to be the worst best thing someone with a past like Heath's could have. Vividly remembering something you wish to forget has to be torture for him."
Livia was concerned. "How bad could his past be?"
Asa shrugged his shoulders. "That's something only Luca knows in full detail. Heath is Luca's adopted little brother, after all." Asa's phone rang. "Hello," he answered.
"Why aren't you moving?"
Asa chuckled, looking up at a camera. "You are being such a creep, J."
"Shut it and move it."
"Aye, aye, captain." Asa saluted the camera.
"Brat," he mumbled before hanging up the phone.
"We better go. J has his panties in a knot." Asa said, smirking at the camera.
Percy shook his head. "You love playing on the line of life and death."
The Capital is far more advanced than I expected. But I was far more amazed by the genuine happiness on the Citizen's faces. People were getting off work others were heading to their jobs. Families were spending quality time with each other, and teens strolled the town without a care. Unity in peace was new to me.
"This is amazing," I whispered to myself.
The car suddenly came to a halt. Looking out the window, I saw a guard walking up to the driver's side window. "Good evening, young boss." He greeted, "May I know your business here on this fine night?"
"Request from the Originals," Malakai responded. "We have a plus one on board summoned by Master J himself."
The guards' eyes briefly widen. "Master J, you say?" Malakai nodded his head. "I understand, but we must complete protocol."
Malakai sighed. "Very well. An open door says, Come in."
"A shut door says, who are you?" the guard replied.
"Shadows and ghosts go through shut doors,"
"If a door is shut and you want it shut, why open it?"
"Doors forget, but only doors know what it is. Doors forget." Malakai completed.
The guard signaled with his hand, "They're clear." He announced and then looked back at me, "Good luck up ahead, and welcome to a new world."
The white and gold marble gate glided open, revealing the Sky Tower 100 feet out. The estate was massive. The glass and white metal arrowhead building looked unreal, and gold dripped from the skyscraper's tip like blood.
"Wow, this is massive."
Malakai chuckled, watching me from the rearview mirror. "What did you expect? It is home to the founders and hundreds of guards."
"Makes sense."
"The arrowhead is the staple of our strength. It symbolizes our vow to protect the Hidden City and the people that reside in it."
"Welcome, sirs and guest. Shall I lead you to the masters?" The head butler greeted them as soon as they entered the building.
"No, we can manage. Where are they?" Luca asked.
"They are on the rooftop, Sir Luca."
"Thank you, Gustoff. We will be on our way if there isn't anything else."
Gustoff gave them a small smile. "That is all, sir. Have a happy stay."
"Hope so."
The elevator doors opened to a perfect king's panorama of the Capital. I was in awe. "Wow, this is a breathtaking view. I could stare at this for the rest of my life."
"This view is the motivation I need to continue to save those who can't save themselves." I jumped as a sudden deep voice spoke behind me. "I apologize. I didn't mean to scare you, Livia Moon. However, it's good to see you in person finally."
I tilted my head. "Have we met before, Master J?"
He chuckled. "I'm not Master J my name is Rowan August. I am one of the six founders of Hidden City. That guy is Master J." he pointed to a man about six feet, buzz cut, covered in tattoos, and a scar across his face that nearly missed his eye.
"Scary." I unconsciously said out loud.
Master J chuckled. "You lack a filter, just like her."
Rowan also chuckled. "Yeah, she does. You see, Livia, although we have never met, we have a mutual acquaintance. So I know more about you than you remember about yourself."
Remember about myself? "What does that mean?"
"I'm afraid I said too much already."
Alaric sat back, watching Livia's, Master J, and Rowan's interaction skeptically. Then, finally, he leaned over to Jonah. "Is it just me, or does it seem like Rowan knows more than what he's spilling? And I've never seen Master J warm up to someone so quickly."
"I thought so too, but you know Rowan always has a reason for everything."
"Hmm, if you say so."
That night was life-changing for me. Strangers came into my life and gave me a purpose to live. They guided me on a path of integrity, strength, and happiness. Sometimes you need to walk on fiery coal to realize that wherever you place your feet is your path. During the day, I was a modest student but a ruthless gang leader by night.
Livia
Livia
LIVIA!
"Huh?"
"I have been calling you for the past ten minutes. What are you thinking about?"
"A path worth crossing," she mumbled.
Malakai squinted his eyes slightly, tilting his head. "I don't want to go down this rabbit hole, so can you please join the rest of us? We are about to start the party officially."
She nodded her head. "Yeah, yeah, let's go."
LiviaManor in two hours and bring these "boyfriends" of yours.Ding DingAlicia: I knew it was only a matter of time, but my heart nearly fell out of my ass. What's worse is I can barely stand because of Adrian.Nina: Girl, you should see what Parker did to my neck. No amount of makeup could cover this.Sandra: My ass is so sore.Zoe: Do we need to know the details?Sandra: It's nothing like that, just a naughty girl that loves to be spanked by a man who doesn't mind punishing this ass until I learn my lesson.Zoe: I knew Jack was kinky.Alicia: Like you and Chris are any better.Zoe: Jealous? But someone's being mighty quiet.Nina: After getting her cherry popped, she's already acting differently.Me: Can a girl marvel in her sexual ecstasy? I h
LiviaI laughed as Apollo kept kissing all over my body. "We've been in bed all day. At some point, we must get up.""That's not true. We've been in the shower, closet, and on the dresser." Apollo chuckled. "Then, in the shower again. I would have taken you to the balcony if it weren't for the guards. We've been pretty productive if you ask me."I fell back in a fit of laughter. "You are ridiculous, and my girl is swollen because of you.""You loved every minute of it. Devour me... Deeper... Fuck, Apollo, you feel so good... Right there, right there, right there, right there." he mocked.I covered his mouth. "Okay, I get it. You fucked me into oblivion."Suddenly his aura changed. There was something darker, tantalizing, seductive, yet possessive in his eyes. "No, I didn't. I didn't want pain to be associated with our first-time together. Although there were a few times I nearly lost control." He said matter of f
LiviaThe morning breeze roused me out of my slumber as its coolness grazed my exposed skin. I nestled into the warmth of Apollo's arms as I watched the curtains dance to the rhythm of nature. His masculine aroma mixed deliciously with the garden's floral fragrance a few feet from our balcony.I rubbed the remainder of my sleep from my eyes and gazed at the ethereal man sleeping soundly beside me. I find it strange, hard even, to find something so meaningful in someone so special. He is like the Sun, every day, it rises and sets, but it is always there. Reliable since the beginning of time.I straddled his stomach. "Wake up, Apollo. It's time to start the day. We have a long day ahead of us, so I need my Mafia King up and ready to start the day with his Queen.""What your Mafia King needs right now is cuddling from his lovely Queen," he buried his face into my breast.I laughed. "That tickles, Daddy."
Livia "The next move?" I pondered. Devising plans is my guilty pleasure, but executing them successfully is dearer. "The White Vultures is all about gaining ultimate power, right? Frankly, I don't think that is entirely their motive. That attack the other night was thought-out yet sporadic. I believe Vanessa has no desire to pursue Apollo or become the Mafia Queen. I am at a loss for what they truly want. Which bothers me." Understanding the enemies' motives is the legend of maneuvering them the way we want. Then I thought about something that could be valuable. "Who was the former leader of White Vultures?" "Vanessa's grandfather, Oscar Myers." "Myers? Oscar Myers? Do you have a picture of him?" "I might. Give me a second." Poet vigorously scanned through files on his laptop. "Oscar is a very privy man, unlike Vanessa, who boldly states she's a Mafia P
LiviaGunshots rang in the air. Dead bodies and blood were everywhere. A little girl sat in a corner, rocking back and forth with hands over her ears. The people with no faces are there again, protecting the little girl. "Run" was the last thing she heard before everything went black. This dream again. "Is it a nightmare? Is it a memory? Who was that girl?" I finally have the answers to those questions. It's not just a dream. This is a memory of my nightmares. The memories I longed for came to me like a flood."Livia! LIVIA! Are you okay?" When I opened my eyes, Cassian was standing over me. "Oh my god Livia you scared the shit out of us."Tears flowed from my eyes, remembering how my once happy, loving life was replaced with hatred and pain. "Sunny?" I fell into his embrace, overwhelmed, shaking, remembering everything. I was finally ready to face reality. That explains why my heart always felt content when I was around Cassian. Her body finally revealed the truth about that inciden
The In Between "I still don't understand, Alaric. How is any of this relevant?" "Use your head, Livia. Have you ever heard the saying, he who seeks revenge digs two graves? Do you know why that is?" "A grave for your enemy and another for yourself because you're dooming yourself with whoever you seek revenge against. "Exactly, my girl. Revenge is close acquaintance with misery, and we know how much that bitch loves company." There was still something that bothered Livia. "After declaring war on Vanessa, what happened to us, Alaric?" "That's something you will have to remember yourself." ∞∞∞ [Earlier that morning…] Governor Lacy and the board of directors were overwhelmed by the gallery of people gathered in front of the courthouse. "Governor Lacy, what will