For Eternity - Edited Version

Chapter Twelve - After Breakfast

***WARNING - Slight description of psychical violence***

~After Breakfast~

Luciano and Chèrise walked side by side in silence to his study, his hands clasped behind his back and hers in front of her waist. His jaw was tense, teeth grinding soundlessly in his mouth. Chèrise fidgeted her thumbs nervously, the silence awkward and downbearing. This was the first time the two had been completely alone in centuries, and she wasn't sure where their relationship stood any longer. He wasn't the same Luciano she knew when they were younger, no longer that cheerful boy with the ability to soothe others in an instant. No. He had become something worse over their time apart. He became just like his grandfather, something he swore he'd never do.

Upon reaching the study, he opened the door for her, motioning for her to step inside. She bowed her head in thanks and scurried past him. He moved in behind her, closing the door with a soft click. He leaned against his desk, arms crossed over his chest and a bored expression plastered to his face.

"Are you going to tell me why you wanted to talk or will we continue our quietude?"

"Luci," she began with a soft sigh, letting her shoulders slump forward. Her legs carried her past him and over to the window, beginning to pace as she thought up the best way to go about what she wished to speak. "You have to tell her who she is. I mean tell her who she really is. You can't pussyfoot around this any longer. You can't keep telling her that you'll explain later but truly offer no solution to this mess that you've dragged her into, and you can't keep your heart so locked up."

"Chèrise... I can't. She's not ready for the truth. She'll likely think I'm more crazy than I already am," he huffed, watching her from over his shoulder. "Not to say I'm crazy. Because I'm not. She just thinks I've lost my marbles due to her kidnapping."

"And I told you kidnapping her was wrong, but do you ever listen to me? No! You never ever do anymore." She turned to face him, eyes alight with fire. "Need I remind you that my sister knows your pain because our mother had a hand in her fiancé's death... So I know better than you think." Hot tears welled in her lower lash line as she continued. "Take (y/n) to the West Wing. It's about time you confronted your nightmares and trauma."

"No," he said firmly, pushing himself away from the desk. "It's off limits for a reason. I'm not ready. I... I can't go back there..." His voice grew quieter with each word, eyes falling to the rung under his desk.

"Luciano, please... You've been avoiding your trauma for hundreds of years. You have to face it! You can't let it control your life!"

Chèrise approached but tensed when he struck her cheek, a look of panic on his face as he lowered his hand. He was unsure what had happened in that split second. What made him think it was okay to bruise her beautiful babydoll face. He reached for her, to which she shrunk away in fear, backing up to the door. Her hand gripped the knob tightly behind her, twisting it quickly and pushing back on the door.

"F-fine... I see there's no talking to you... But remember this, brother... The more you fight, the more you hide, the angrier you'll grow... You'll end up alone..."

"Chèrise... Chèrise, come back! I'm sorry!" he called as she hastily retreated, hoping to find Gilen or at the very least someone she trusted.

~Early Morning - Not Too Long Before Sunrise~

Luciano had spent hours looking for Chèrise but to no avail. She was elusive, but he was more than determined to find her and apologize for his actions despite not being a hundred percent sure what all had happened in those few moments. He hadn't had a lapse in memory for centuries, but that split second was enough to cause him concern. He wondered if perhaps a spirit possessed him, which wouldn't surprise him. From hearing Chèrise talk, he knew her mother's vengeful spirit often followed her for torturous purposes. It wasn't until Anna and Lauren brought him to a maid that had seen the French princess a few hours earlier that he came to know she visited the hospital wing with a cut on her cheek.