Chapter 1

Luciano

The path back to the castle was quiet, dull and crowded with sorrow. My thoughts were blank with the memories of the awful night that had indeed passed by. Whiffs of the night crossed my mind but I didn't dare to think much, almost as setting off my emotions to the point where I couldn't feel anything, except for the bitter cold.

It was the only way I could ever deal with this.

This.

Death of Red.

There were warm tears at the corners of my eyes but they didn't dare to spill, not when the sun was already out and the mourning period was over for me. I had to stop before the death engulfed me as well.

The iron gates of the castle slid open at my appearance, the guards knew that when I was back, everything was going to be over. And, it was. Everything was over.

The eclipse.

Gretel.

Red.

The smell of death followed me as the other dead wolves were being bought back to the castle as well. The treacherous entrance doors of the castle were opened as well and I walked in. Narrowing my head, I dropped down to the ground, along with the body I had in my embrace.

I sensed my Mother and the other wolves at the castle, including my Father and the servants who were locked up inside, away from the danger. They all crowded in front of me, their eyes confused and their mouths sealed shut.

The silence was everlasting, it never seemed to end.

Red's body turned cold, it smelled sweet and herbal as she died as a witch and with every torturous second passing by, the scent became strong and sharper. I touched her face, pushing aside her hair and looking at her for another minute. It seemed like she was in peace—in a very deep peace and she deserved it after everything.

My throat ached when I raised my head and said, "She's dead and so is Gretel." It was hard to accept the fact and I did spend the whole night wishing it was a nightmare, only when the sun rose, I realized that she was gone.

My love was gone.

And I killed her.

When the truth dropped in the silence, I heard gasps and the noises of shifting from the people standing ahead of me. My Mother slipped through the crowd and got down beside me, her hand over my shoulder, ready to embrace me.

"I'm sorry, Luciano." She whispered.

I stared at her straight, watching the grief growing in her eyes. It was real now and I couldn't deny it anymore, even if I wanted too. I pulled my hands away from Red's and stood up on my feet to halt away from the crowd. A wave of sorrow passed my expression and I scurried away from the entrance.

I couldn't be here.

I stopped by the room where I believed Valarie was. It was still locked. I knocked on the door and she sensed me. The door creaked open and she invited me in.

"She was asleep all night." Valarie said, rubbing Fiona's short hair. They both weren't aware of anything and I could tell from their excited faces. "She just woke up, I fed her and she's playing with her toys now."

I nodded and bent down on my knees, playing with my daughter and trying to get rid of the images of the night.

"Could I have some time alone?" I asked with throaty voice.

Valarie smiled. "Of course." She went out of the room and closed the door before leaving.

Fiona was almost going to be a year old; her birthday was approaching soon and there was no way I could break the news to her as she barely understood anything. I had no idea on what to do, what to tell her—that I killed her mother?

She crawled across the carpet, dragging her soft monkey along with her and after running in circles, she jumped over me. The little golden light from the sunrise shone in through the curtains and her red hair sparkled.

I took my daughter in my arms, pressing her head against my chest and she closed her eyes, quickly resting. I took a deep breath, allowing myself to breathe the air of peace, even if it was just for a second.

"I'm sorry." I whispered in my daughter's ears. "I'll make things right. I promise." I kissed her forehead and in response, a smile tugged on her face and she giggled, unable to understand what had happened, what she lost, what I had lost.

I gave her a smile back before placing her back over the bed and calling Valarie. It took a few seconds to run into the room but when she did, she had a frightened face and a gloomy cloud over her head as if she had just learned.

"Take Fiona to my house in the town. Keep her there till I say so and let no one near her. There are guards and you'll be given everything. Just don't bring her to the castle." I commanded.

"Yes, my King." Valarie wiped away her tears with the napkin she held before she ran to Fiona and took her in her arms and obeyed me.

The silence returned and I stood on my spot for a minute, head titled to the windows and tears of sorrow brimming in my eyes as I watched the garden ahead. Gathering myself, I returned to my bedroom, where her scent was the strongest, where the bed was still unmade and her clothes were still lying around, scattered across the room as she barely felt comfortable in anything.

I could still sense her, lingering around, running her and there, like she did in the past few days, begging for attention from her own daughter. It was a thrill just watching her.

Alive.

I opened up the cabinet where a lot of bottles were stored. It had been a while since I was last numb. Grabbing one of the bottles of bourbon, I poured it down in a glass and drank it up as soon as I could.

I had lost Red.

She was long dead.

And there was no one I could blame, except for my own self.

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