WHAT IF?

9.

ETHAN

Our conversation lasted for almost an hour. Honestly, that is more time than I expected. But it is a good sign, her getting comfortable around me. That is exactly what I need. It already grew dark so we finally exchanged pleasantries and she went to her place. I asked her to accompany but I don't understand what it is with girls denying help every time. I look at her figure recede and sigh.

My phone buzzes in my jeans pocket and I take it out.

Fuck. The fest.

I had to go to Dean' place to arrange for the fest now that the vacations have started. Alerez, a student of my dormitory, is already there. We need to organize it by the end of the month so that I can use these people, my people, when I'll need them.

The summer fest is held every year with free booze, girls, 'explicit rooms' on rent, loud music, a swimming pool and a forest nearby. What else do these fucking sluts and man - whores need? All these kids care about is sex and drinks all night. Those who can't afford the rooms make themselves comfortable to go in the forest late at night. Many are considerate enough to enjoy themselves in the pool and several don't even bother hiding their filthy body being covered in whatever their hands lay on while driving themselves mad.

But all of this is just a cover for a much bigger part, a cause.

La Rinascita.

The Rebirth.

Nobody who attends the fest knows about it. Not even Alerez. It is just me and Dean who handle everything.

And those who do, are dead.

At least for the world, they are. It is a necessary precaution we have to take with this. No one can even get a hint of our programme because this is something far greater than any of us. Greater than even me. We need army - manpower, soldiers, who would be ready to sacrifice themselves for me and my -

"You are lost, brother," Dean says eyeing me weirdly. He does that out of habit. I can't blame him for that. It was engraved in our brains.

Beware of the people, their motives, behaviour, words, hands, body, expressions. Do not leave anything, or else you'll be the one left by them at last. You can't be the loser. That is not why you are being raised. YOU ARE THE PRINCES OF OUR FAMILY.

OUR HEIR.

Peidro and I stand in the middle of the room. His eyes locked on me while I just freeze in my position, unable to look away from the ground.

The uneasiness sets in deep in my bones as those hands leisurely travel my body. We are being taught about the lesson of alertness, vigilance. But, I don't like this lesson much. My body shudders a little as the hand comes to a halt on my belt. I look up, wriggle in my place a little so that her hand either drops or moves from there, but it doesn't budge. Defeated, I ask her softly, "May I ask a question, Emilia?"

"oh, sì, amore mio."

If someone places their hand like this, shouldn't it be bad?"

"Why, it should. It definitely is bad, Caro."

"Then should you not also remove it? I don't- don't feel comfortable like this," My gaze lowers and palms sweating, worried if I had upset her.

"I am your mother, am I not Caro?"

"Ste- step mother." My eyes start to sting. Fear drains in each and every muscle of my body dreading what will happen next. She never likes hearing that. I don't know what triggers her so much. Is it the truth? That she didn't get to marry my father before my mother?

A hand suddenly grips my neck, squeezing it tighter every passing second while the other one tugs to my shorts harshly. Panic rises in my fragile body. My legs kick in the air trying to hit anything in the way.

"HOW DARE YOU TALK TO ME LIKE THAT! Your father had told you I am the only thing left for you. You have no one, except me. Do you understand, Nickloas?" She bursts and shouts in my face as I am slammed against a wall. Air rushes out my lungs as my tiny hands shoot up to grip hers, attempting to free myself.

After what feels like an eternity, she sighs and loosens her grip and I fall on the floor on my knees, panting and heaving, sucking in the precious air that I know I won't have the grace to breathe next time.

"I am sorry, darling. I shouldn't have done that now. But I hope you won't mind that, would you?" She smiles innocently, as if she wasn't the one trying to kill me a second ago.

I blow out a heavy breath and look and him raising an eyebrow at him. "I am fine. And quit acting as if you are trying to study me. I know you can't do that."

He smirks in response.

Bastard.

He knows we can't show things too much, drawing attention or have people suspicious of us, yet he dares to take his chances, that too in front of me. Maybe he is just trying to rub it in my face that I do not have the liberty my younger brother has. For now. But he doesn't care about it or of the fact that he is watching us. Every single second. Even if we can't see him. We are supposed to be the rich kids who got enrolled in into one of the best colleges just to laid out and dump ourselves somewhere around the college now and then. We are not to talk like philosophers and mind readers. We aren't either of these, but still, my point stands.

"Trouble with girls again?" Alerez jumps in. He is making phone calls to all the event managing agencies to see through the fest. It has to be perfect. Like always. No error. And therefore, no punishment.

"You bet," I girn stupidly, letting him believe I am as sick as him and others. I walk out to the lobby leading to the huge ground where the event would be held. I sigh deeply as Dean falls in step behind me.

"What's wrong? Did he call? Or you enjoying being a jerk like that?"

I turn my head towards him lowering my gaze a little to come to the same level of sight as his, "Don't you dare talk to me like that. Next time I hear even a word from you trying to poke me, I'll rip that tongue out of that dirty mouth of yours.

You have one job, and that is to keep him satisfied. Do that fucking thing and don't come in my way."

His tongue drags along in a circle, poking his inner cheek, as if daring me to touch him. I glare at him, hard. His throat works up and down and eventually steps back. At the end, he knows not to piss me off because I will be the one saving him when the wrath comes storming at us.

"Call the workers in to set the wire fence today. I want that to be completed by tonight, however long it takes," I order, turning around and walking towards my dorm.

"And where are you going, your highness?" He shouts, flailing his arms in air.

This time, I smirk.

"Girl problem."