Beautiful Mistake

Chapter 18 - Our Demons (Part 2)

Angelo's POV

I carried out this experiment. I carried it out in hopes of having Elena face her demons but landed up facing my own. I could tell she was in pure shock from my request. Heck, I was in shock as I prepared myself to speak about her... My sister... Aurora.

I cornered Elena earlier this evening and as I kept pushing, I realized it was only causing her to close off more. I was achieving the opposite of my initial speculation. I then discerned that I need to give her something in return. Asking her to trust me, deserved the same behaviour in return. I would need to show more of myself, in order to prove myself trustworthy enough, for her to give more of herself to me. I hated opening up, but she was worth it... Worth me speaking about my greatest wound. 

Her eyes were different. They held a sadness within them that crippled me. I was uncertain whether it was her own sadness or a form of pity towards me. I found myself missing the bright, invigorating, boisterous, feisty, and lighthearted Elena. I missed seeing her smile and hearing her laugh, making me understand the magnitude of an impact she has had on my life. What the fuck am I supposed to do now? How the fuck am I supposed to handle this whole situation? Gio was right... This was a dangerous game I decided to play and as it stands... I am loosing miserably.

I gave her a brief nod before walking around the couch and sitting down upon it, staring out the window into the darkened sky. I could sense her watching my every move before hearing her shifting along the marble floor, eventually feeling the cushion dip beside me as she sat down.

I grabbed the decanter of whiskey off the coffee table, pouring a generous amount into the tumbler placed beside it, then shifting back in my seat. I leaned my elbows on my legs, swirling the glass around and watching the amber liquid whirl against the sides. I took a deep breath in through my nose and gently released it out my mouth before taking the final step and speaking.

"As you have already determined, her name was Aurora. She would have been 32 this year." I paused, closing my eyes when I heard Elena's voice sound out. It was hardly a murmur and I was almost certain she was speaking to herself.

"Would have been 32? But..."

"Yes, she was my twin and yes she's dead," I spoke the words as placidly as I could manage.

Her breath hitched in her throat as her hand raised to cover her mouth. It didn't take her long to compose herself, speaking once more.

"I'm so sorry. What happened to her?" Her voice was nervous as she asked.

"I killed her."

"What?" In the glass reflection, I could see her eyes widening as her body pulled back slightly.

"It's my fault she's dead." I finished off.

"Angelo, I am sure it's not your fault." She tried.

"It is!" My voice raised a bit and I noticed her jump out the corner of my eye. You need to fucking calm yourself, Angelo.

"It is," I said softly. "My sister lived a very guarded life, which I'm sure you are accustomed to. She was my father's Princess and he made sure she was always under a watchful eye. However, it backfired in his face when he suffocated her and controlled her every move. So, you can imagine how easy it was to manipulate her. Take advantage of her weakest points and she was an easy target. Which is what her boyfriend did."

I could feel my hand tightening its grip around the glass. I needed to pause and take a few deep breathes in an attempt to calm the raging fury I could sense rising.