Elena I was in trouble. Even with the suspicion I felt for him, I couldn't help but melt when he shot me smiles like that. We got out of the car and started strolling in no particular direction. It was an awkward silence until he suddenly stopped and lifted his hand to grab my hair. He fisted a lock in his hand and rubbed it between his fingers. "Why?" he asked. "The red was so beautiful. I wouldn't fault you if you had a reason," he said as he took a step closer to me. I was stuck, actually mesmerized by the man in front of me. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts so I could give him an answer without implicating myself. "I just wanted something different," I said dismissively. He stayed silent for a moment, staring into my eyes, and then his gaze fell to my lips. He licked his own lips and looked like he wanted to say something. My eyes followed the movement of his tongue over his lips, wetting them slightly. Blessed Virgin, I forced my eyes to look away, but somehow it
Elena Either way, I didn't want to be a part of it suddenly, as I remembered the reason I was skeptical about him in the first place. I felt like I had to be true to myself, not fraternizing with those who tried to kill me. I turned towards my apartment and tried to go inside when he finally spoke. "Everything I have… everything I have built, my city into. None of it belongs to me. It belongs to her, the one who I'm looking for," he said, caressing my cheek as though he was speaking directly to me, but I knew better. “Lucky girl, huh.” I muttered to which he laughed in response. I didn't believe a word he said. I turned my face, trying to detach myself from the sweet warmth of his hand. Unfortunately, he didn't take the hint. Instead, he leaned closer and planted a kiss on my cheek. This man was a menace to society. I looked at him and took him in for the last time. I wasn't going to see him again. Perhaps that was why I indulged him, but I knew I wasn't going to see him again, at
Elena "So what do you want me to do?" I asked him. "Why am I still hearing about you? Don't come back," he whispered. "Go and die, basically," he said. "Your presence... The mere fact that you are alive is challenging enough. I don't want any challenge, Cassandra doesn't want any challenge, your family doesn't want any challenge right now. The last thing we want is for the ground we stand on to be shaking. As though the masked King isn't bad enough, we can't afford to add you to the mix." He hung up after that. Half of what he said made sense to me, but the remaining half didn't. The masked King? What did I have to do with him? And then there was him calling my family. I had no family, so I didn't understand what he meant. My family, the one I had long since died when I was 15? Then again, I knew nothing of what had happened in Avalia for the last eight years, and I preferred it that way. I had avoided the news of that city for the last eight years, and I didn't intend to start
Elena This time, I knew the people inside were onto me. I almost cried when I saw the car follow me all the way to my school gate. It was definitely in relation to the letter that I had received. I shook my head, trying to think of a plan for what to do once I got off the bus, but nothing came to mind. I immediately started to fight for air as I began to hyperventilate. Suddenly, the walls and windows of the bus seemed to close around me, making me feel as though I was stuck in a dark box. I felt a hand on my shoulder and heard soft Italian words. It was the woman sitting behind me. "It's going to be okay," she whispered in Italian as she rubbed soothing circles on my back. I didn't know how long we were there, but by the time I calmed down and thanked her, we were already at my school gate. I ran straight from the bus stop into the school as soon as I got off, but I knew it was futile. I knew the car could easily drive into the school since it was public and anybody could enter.
Elena I sat in the library, pondering the letter again. Curiosity got the better of me, and I pulled it out of my bag, surprised that I had slipped it in there myself. I took a deep breath as I opened the envelope. The words made no sense to me, so I read it again, and again, and yet again. The letter explained to me that help was coming, so I should hold tight. Fortunately, if it wasn't from the person I thought it was, Rodrigo. It was signed, the Masked King. At this point, I couldn't hold in the curiosity and started to wonder just who this Masked King was. His words did little to explain who he was; rather, it was a few words. "As the daughter of the previous king, it is unsightly for you to live in such a way. Help is coming, and soon you will take your rightful place." Of course, the words were easy to understand in intent; however, they confused the heck out of me. If this person was really interested in helping me, then perhaps fixing the people that were following me woul
Elena That was the question I wanted to ask, but I couldn't bring myself to do so. Instead, I stayed silent and watched as he took another step back from me. I bit my lip as I willed myself to speak. Nothing came out, leaving me perplexed at myself and the state of my will. Nonetheless, I had decided that this would be the last time I would see Damon. Suddenly, a bright idea came into my mind. Perhaps I could write him a note instead, telling him that I wasn't interested in whatever it is he had to offer. "Where I come from," Damon's voice pulled me out of my thoughts about the note. "There was a man who gave everything just to make sure that the city was livable. Granted, it wasn't perfect and many sacrifices were made, but for the most part, it was fine. Until his reign began to fester." At this point, he was talking about how he had joined those that betrayed my father. I turned my head to one side, hoping he wouldn't see the anger that was on my features and continue his self-a
Elena A part of me thought that the agreement was centered around how their son would marry whichever daughter my father would have, which was me. One day, I overheard Rodrigo talking to another one of my uncles about how he didn't like how much power was coming to my father. Of course, the younger version of me discounted the conversation and chalked it up to a simple game. Frederick flashed a bright smile at me as he made his way towards me. His bright blue eyes twinkled like stars in an otherwise dark sky. I got up from my seat and anticipated the hug that I knew was coming. As I placed my head on his chest, my eyes caught Cassandra glaring daggers at me. I should have noticed then that she had only coveted what was mine. I felt an icy cold feeling as if I were doused with water, pulling me out of my dreams. I opened my eyes, only to be met by darkness. But I wasn't in darkness, I realized. My head was covered by a dark cloth. As my senses adjusted to the darkness, I realized
Elena Of course, Paul said nothing. The Kingpin, however, was unusually chatty. "I was very surprised to find out that you were the one who was taking my money. Of course, your family was so kind as to promise me multiples of the figure you've stolen," he remarked. "I didn't steal anything from you. I won the money fair and square. Most of those fights were fixed. So tell me, how are you able to break the system? This is the ironclad system that had worked for years before you came?" I replied, feeling a surge of defiance. "I have my men looking into you, they found nothing. It's almost like you appeared from the face of the world suddenly," he chuckled as he walked beside me, the clanking sound of the tips of his gold-tipped shoes bothering me as I flinched with each step he took. "But it doesn't matter now. You will get what is due to you, and I will get what is due to me. Your friend can attest to that," he gestured towards Paul, who stayed silent throughout the exchange. "But