The Thrill Of Your Love

Chapter Twenty Seven

"I'm really sorry for you loss."

For your loss.

Loss.

Each syllable of the doctor's words was like a dagger to her shattered heart. A gut-wrenching cry tore from Alice's throat, the pain of the sudden grief ripping through her, feeling as though her heart had been torn from her chest, leaving behind and agonising emptiness.

Imperator's face had drained from all its colour, her usual professional demeanour crumbling as she stumbled slightly, leaning heavily on Nihil as she lost the ability to even stand properly. Ethel had burst into tears, her hands covering her eyes as she collapsed into Primo's arms; though Primo remained eerily still. his eyes widened with horror. Secondo had sank back into a chair, a singular tear trickling along the length of his cheek and dripping onto the polished floor beneath him. And Copia, who's face was soaking with fresh tears, reached out to place a comforting hand on Alice's shoulder, but she shoved him away.

"No! Where is he?!" She angrily cried, her voice desperate with denial. "You must have got it wrong...he can't be dead. I don't believe you." Her tone raised to a frantic shout, then cracked again, leaving her sounding fragile and weak. "You haven't tried everything, you-"

"Miss, I assure you that we did everything we could to help." The doctor's voice was gentle. "He has been taken to the ministry's chapel of rest for now. We want to run an autopsy as we still don't understand the cause of death. But then he will be embalmed and displayed for mourners within the next few days. I'm sure you're already aware of the process for a deceased Emeritus but we-"

Alice couldn't hear his words. The melancholy, droning sound of his voice fell on deaf ears as she concentrated on not throwing up. Her head was spinning as she felt her knees collapse, falling to the cold ground beneath her and covering her face with her arms, sobbing as she gave up trying to comprehend what was happening.

"Alice." A soft voice pulled her out of her bubble. "Alice. Come on honey, I'll take you back to your room."

Alice looked up to see Copia gulping hard as he attempted to hide his own emotion for her sake. She hadn't noticed that everyone else had left the room, seemingly to try and rest as the ticking clock hanging on the wall edged closer to nine. He held out his hand and helped her up off the floor, pulling her into his side and snaking an arm around her waist. Neither of them said a word on the way back to the papal chambers, both of them too scared to accept the situation any further.

"Copia." Alice whispered, her voice shuddering and hiccuping as she spoke through her tears. "Can you...stay here for a bit...please." Her lip trembled, holding open the door to the man who equally looked like he could use the company.

"Si...yes. Can I get you anything?" He questioned quietly in attempt to distract himself. "Tea, water?"

But Alice had other plans, pulling him onto the sofa and enveloping him in a hug. She tucked her knees to her chest and sat close to Copia who held her as tight as he could, a fierce protectiveness of her overcoming him. He buried his head in the crook of her neck and allowed his own tears freely flow along the length of his cheek, dampening Alice's t shirt.

"I'm sorry." Alice's voice came out in shuddering breaths. "I'm so fucking sorry Copia." He gently pulled back, his eyes searching for hers with concern as he wiped away her tears, tilting her chin back to meet them.

"Why are you saying sorry?" He asked softly.

"I-" Alice sniffled. "I should have done something earlier. It's my fault." She insisted, her voice trembling.

"Oh, darling, no." Copia's heart ached for her as he pulled her head close to his chest once more. "No, Alice. It's not your fault at all." He murmured, rocking the girl gently. "Terzo was taking medication, clearly there was something else wrong. You couldn't have known."