Blood and Prophecy ║ 18+ (Ménage)

The Guilt of The Past (Part 3)

Luca's POV
September, 1977
Roderick, what are you talking about? I heard Valeria's voice in my head, she was projecting what was happening. My muscles went tense.

I don't know... I think I'm in love with you, Roderick's faint voice said. I could feel the rage build inside of me. How dared he say something like that to my beloved?

Calm down, Luca. Something is wrong. He's confused and terrified. It's like what he just said didn't match with his heart, Valeria whispered to me. I frowned at her words. Now, that I thought about it, it made me realize that it could be a spell, the kind that Jane did to my brother. That cunning bitch really wanted to die.

Roderick, you already knew that I'm with Luca. What is happening, Roderick? Valeria patiently said to him. I knew Valeria wouldn't want me to walk into them right now, so I stayed in my office, observing the situation.

I-I don't know, Madam, I heard a crack in Roderick's voice as if he was crying. Do you want to tell me what's on your mind? Because I can sense that you are confused and afraid, Valeria spoke.

I know I love you and I will always be there for you, Madam, Roderick said to her. I had to take a deep breath to keep myself in check. I couldn't be blind with rage.

I know, Roderick. That is what family does, Valeria replied. Knowing her words, I knew she was trying to make some sense to Roderick.

Y-yes, you're correct. But the voice... Roderick trailed off. I could feel Valeria's wariness from our bond.

The voice? What does the voice say? Valeria inquired. Smart girl. My beloved was very smart. I knew Valeria would feel that I proud of her.

I-I have t-to... I-I can't say it, Madam, Roderick said to her. Valeria must be confused. Why couldn't he say something? Was it part of the spell? I really hated that cunning bitch.

Thankfully, an idea came to my mind. Tell him to write it down, I told Valeria. Valeria quickly followed my order. However, the words that Roderick had written down was beginning of our nightmare.

I'm in love with Valeria. What I need is Valeria. Do whatever it takes to have Valeria. Valeria read the words quietly to me. I could feel she was terrified about what was going to happen, and so did I.

〄〄〄

February, 1978
The scream of one of my human servants made me materialized into my house. Horror filled my body when I saw multiples lifeless bodies were lying on the floor.

Valeria! Where are you, love? I quickly reached her in my mind.

If I thought I was terrified, I had no idea how to describe how I felt when Valeria didn't answer. Valeria's scent was masked by the stench of blood. I couldn't hear Valeria's voice either.

I materialized in each room one by one. Finally, when I reached the basement, I found Valeria laying motionless on the floor. But thank God, she was breathing.

"I told you, Madam. I'm going to have you. Look what you forced me to do. Now, Elizabeth is dead because of you," a voice brought my focus to what Valeria's eyes were focused on ─ Elizabeth's body. I knew the voice, it was Roderick.

Valeria, are you okay? I asked her, but she never answered me. I had no idea why she didn't answer me. Knowing I had to kill Roderick, made my heart broken. Not just because Valeria was so fond of him, but we all knew it was Jane's fault.

In a flash, I reached Roderick and ripped his heart from his body. I catch his body before it could hit the floor and laid him down slowly. I released a shaky breath. He didn't deserve this, but there was nothing I could do. We tried to find a witch that could help us for months, but there was no one could break the spell.

I quickly walked to Valeria who was now staring at me with a tired eyes. Carefully, I held her in my arms. I had no idea what happen to her, but I needed her to stay awake.

"I'm here, my love. Keep your eyes open. Don't close your eyes for me," I said to Valeria. But before I could ask her a question about what happened to her, her blue eyes slowly closed. Little did I know, it was the last time I was going to see her eyes in forty three years.

〄〄〄

Damian's POV
I felt my chest was tight with the memory that was pushed to my mind. What happened to Valeria after that? And that fucking bitch ─ Jane ─ I really wanted her to be dead. It was fucking horrible.

A cold hand touched my skin. I opened my eyes and stared at watery green eyes. I could see the guilt was consuming him. Deep down I knew it wasn't his fault, but I needed to know what had happened to Valeria that made Luca so devastated.

"What happened to Valeria?" I whispered while stroking his cheek. The tears finally escaped from his eyes. I wiped it as I waited for his answer.

Roderick injected Valeria with silver. Her grief prevented her from fully healing. She took a deep sleep. For forty three years, Luca whispered in my mind. My heart broke for Luca. I couldn't imagine live without Valeria.

He gave me a sad smile and leaned in close. I closed my eyes and gently kissed his lips, his bare chest brushing against mine.

She woke up the exact day I met you, he told me. I gasped against his mouth. I could feel his smile. However the next thing he said made me confused.

"It was my fault," Luca whispered. I frowned. What the hell is he talking about? It was Jane's fault. That fucking bitch, I thought.

"But it is my fault for letting her to see Valeria with Roderick," he replied as he closed his eyes. Fucking hell, I finally understood why Valeria needed my help. He was stubborn as fuck about these kinds of things.

I cupped his face in my hands, causing his eyes flew open. His green eyes showed me the guilt and sadness over everything that had happened. I had no intention of letting him drown in his own guilt and sadness. When my parents died, I felt enough guilt and grief to teach me that we don't have complete control over everything.

"You never knew what would happen, Luca. Not everything is in our control. You know, my parents death taught me well about it," I said to him. He frowned and grabbed my hands to kiss it.

"What happened?" he asked. This time I was the one who frowned. I said, "I thought you already knew. I mean, I was thinking about it when you told me about this supernatural thing."

He nodded and told me, "I catch a glimpse. But I didn't want to pry. So I try to only focus on Valeria's mind."

I smiled at Luca and kissed him, showing my appreciation. I told him about what happened to my parents. He listened intently as he caressed my hand.

Finally, I told him the one thing I learned the most, "I was consumed by guilt and grief. I think I was so stupid and worthless because after everything they gave me, I couldn't prevent them to die."

I felt his body tense when I said those words. I gave him a knowing smile and released a shaky breath and continued, "But I knew they wanted me to do whatever made me happy. They wouldn't want me to drown in my guilt and grief. Eight years ago, I did my best to prevent them from going, but something beyond my control happened and took them away from me. I knew I couldn't do anything about it anymore. So, when I knew that they left me with a huge amount of tuition, I study hard on the subject that I enjoy. I'm doing my best on my class because I love them and I knew they loved me. We can't change the past, but we can do our best today. That's what we can control."

Luca stared at me for a moment and smile softly at me, "You talk like a psychologist."

There a second of silence before we burst out laughing. But Luca was right, I talked like a damn psychologist. But could you blame me? I was fucking studying psychology, so what would you expect.