LoveBite [2]

86

After putting Anya to bed with a tight hug and loving goodnight, he steps cautiously into his room with a warning from his daughter. She would know whether it's peaceful, or not, of all people. So he steps quietly into the room, where Satine lays on her front in the bed with her head on her crossed arms. He crawls up beside her and begins to brush his fingers all around her back.

"What's wrong?" He whispers softly and tears once again fill her eyes, because she can't seem to stop it. "Do you not feel good?"

"I feel weak." She states beneath the rasp in her voice. "And tired."

"Why don't you close your eyes." He pushes her hair behind her ear and she shakes her head. "Sleep it off."

"No." She breaks down then and there.

She lifts her head and reaches for him as she covers her mouth and sits up. He quickly follows as she hides behind her hands and he brings her in to hold her shaking body in his.

"Breathe through it." He says as she tries to do it, but finds it to be quite difficult. "I know it's hard, but that's the only thing that's gonna help."

And eventually, it does. It doesn't take long, but it took long enough for her to decide that she can't wait any longer.

"I have to tell you something." She wipes her face as she backs away, sitting criss cross in front of him. "I can't -- I can't keep this a secret anymore."

"What?" He takes her hands.

She slouches in thought, contemplating how she can start this in the best way possible. But there is no best way.

"Uh..." She licks her lips and clears her throat. "Sa -- Satine isn't my real name." She breathes fearfully and his brows furrow.

"What?"

"My name is Alyona." She informs and he shakes his head, entirely too confused. "My name is Alyona and I told you it was Satine, because I didn't want to be associated with the Red Room anymore, because they called me that name."

"Wait." He lets go of her and puts his hands up and her racing heart drops. "Hold -- So for sixteen years, I've been calling you Satine, but that's not even your name?"

"And..." She breathes fearfully.

"And?" His brows raise and she grips her fingers.

"And I found out that's not my name either."

"Wha --? Found out?" He shakes his head. "By who? Who are you getting this from?"

"Haven."

"Haven." He nods as his hands drop. "What'd she say your real name is?"

"Ida Klein." She clears her throat. "And Dreykov isn't my father."

"Do you know who is?" He shakes his head and she tilts hers, causing him to sigh. "Do you know who they are?" He asks softer.

"Yeah." She nods a bit. "But it doesn't matter."

"Of course it does." His brows furrow and she sighs.

"No, it doesn't." She shakes her head. "They're already dead. They killed them when they took me, so there's no use in even caring." She shrugs, chin trembling as she dismisses it like it's all fine.

"But you do." He nods gently and she looks at him. "Tell me their names, Love."

"Freida and Adrean Klein." She licks her lips. "They're German. I'm not Russian." She shakes her head, gripping her sweats in her fingers. "A fake ethnicity and three names, where two of them are lies." She says and he hangs his head. "I that's not all I have to say."