Ethereal

Secrets

Primo calmed himself down, grasping onto me and trying to calm me down, and that's when I realized my breathing had became quick and uneven, and tears were staining my cheeks.

I told him to go away, to go to his room because a little boy should not be dealing with this, but he stayed, wrapping his tiny arms around me the best he could. My face was still buried in my hands and I didn't dare to look up, or even remove one hand to grab something to cover my face, because then my secret would be out.

I let myself watch the scene through a gap in my fingers as the door banged open again and everybody was in the room. My brothers were in the room.

Emilio shoved past everybody and came up to me, burying my face into his chest, hiding me from prying eyes. I heard Enzo yell at Celeste, and the door slam moments later.

"Anastasia?" Enzo asked carefully. I didn't respond, trying to keep my cries silent.

I felt the bed dip beside me and somebody else wrap their arms around me. I recognized their warmth right away, allowing myself to melt into Maya's embrace.

"I don't have anything else to cover you up right now, Ana," she said quietly.

"I -- I don't care! Give me a rag, a -- a blanket, I don't care, Maya, please...please just..." I choked out, my voice muffled against Emilio's chest.

"Ana," Emilio whispered, "Ana, please. Please just look up. Please don't make me feel like an idiot."

I wasn't bothered to hide my cries anymore. The sound of my sobs and sniffles were heard throughout the room, where I know everybody was watching me closely.

Emilio tried pulling away but I grabbed on, refusing to take my face out of his chest.

They can't know. They can't.

"Get out." Emilio said.

"What?" I heard somebody say.

"Everybody, get the fuck out, now!" Emilio bellowed, turning back to them.

Slowly, everybody but Blake, Coven, and Primo left the room. When the door was safely shut, Emilio forcefully pulled back from me and moved my hands from my face. He let out a soft gasp, his eyes wide and glazed over. He pulled me into his embrace again, this time warm and loving. The feeling had be crying all over again, breaking down like a baby.

He wiped my tears away with his thumbs, cupping my face.

"Oh my god," he muttered, taking in every inch. I let out a watery, broken laugh.

"What? Am I ugly?"

He tried to laugh, but it came out as a huff and a singular tear rolled down his cheek. I wiped it away with my sleeve.

"I -- Verity? Is it really you? Am I dreaming? Pinch me, somebody,"

Primo grabbed onto his arm and pinched him, twisting his skin. He let out a yelp and Primo giggled, and I couldn't help but giggle, too.

"How?" he whispered, not taking his eyes off of me for one second.

"There's a lot to explain, Emilio --"

"No, I mean how could you do this to me? To us? I grieved you every day. I cried over you every night. The house was so silent...Nobody talked, nobody listened. It was like that for years. Years, Verity...and you were just out, what, killing people? Going on missions? What the fuck?"

I let out a shaky breath. "You don't understand Emilio, please just hear me out, please just listen to me --"

"I've listened enough. I've heard enough."

I let out a hiccup, ready to start crying again. He noticed and his eyes softened but his demeanor didn't.

"I didn't have a choice, Emilio. Try to understand,"

"You absolutely had a choice."

"No, I didn't. He didn't give me a choice!"

Emilio froze. "Who didn't give you a choice?"

"Caine." I said in horror, and his face set in realization.

"Caine?"

"He was there, Lio. He was there and he was going to kill you — kill all of you — if I didn't do it, I'm so sorry, I never meant for any of this to happen." I said weakly.

From there, I explained. I explained best I could have every event that happened to lead up to this day, Blake or Coven stepping in every few minutes when my voice cracked and my breath caught in my throat.

Emilio listened. He latched onto every word, taking it in and not letting out a peep. His eyes became wider as I talked, his hands balling into fists.

As a finally finished, he silently got up and took a deep breath, rubbing at his eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Lio. I —" I began, but he was quick to cut me off.

"No, no, Verity, don't ever be sorry for something that isn't your fault. It'll be okay, we will figure this out. I promise."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

We stayed staring at each other for a few minutes until Coven finally broke the silence.

"So, what are we going to do about the mob waiting outside the door?" He asked, gesturing to the closed and locked door.

"I don't know," I whispered.

Was I ready to tell everybody?

"We're keeping this under wraps for now." Emilio said firmly. "Nobody says anything. Primo, you can do that, right?"

Primo smiled up at his dad. "Papa, I knew. She's my auntie!"

"But you can't call her —"

"My Auntie Diavola."

Emilio smiled fondly at his son and I smiled, upset that I had to miss out on so many memories and moments like these.

I wouldn't miss out on any more.

There was a knock on the door and I faced away while Emilio opened it a crack.

"Here, I just got it back. Tell her we want to talk." I heard Enzo mutter distinctively, and the door shut and locked a few moments later.

I looked back and saw Emilio holding my mask. There were a few pieces chipped off and my right eye would be completely visible, as well as parts of my mouth, but it was the best I could do for now. I put the mask on and gave Emilio a thumbs up, and he gave one right back.

"We don't have to talk to them now, you know," Emilio said.

"I want to."

"Will you tell them?"

"No...I can't. It'll put them in danger with Caine, danger that I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy,"

Emilio nodded. He scooped Primo up in his arms and walked out, leaving me alone in the room with Blake and Coven.

"I don't know what you're thinking, you crazy chick, but just know we got your back," Blake reassured, giving me a smile. His eyes betrayed him, though, showing worry.

With that, he grabbed my hand and we walked out of the room, where everybody was waiting. Ready to keep my secret under wraps and ready to face my fears.

Maybe if I told them then, everything would have come out better.

Maybe if I had told them then, no lives would have been lost.

But I didn't.

Sometimes secrets are meant to be told.

WC: 1197