Page 108 of Heir of Darkness

Luna shook her head, sitting up. “We should head out before it gets too late in the day.”

Valerio groaned, sitting up as well. “Yeah, I know. I wish we could just stay here, not face anything back at home.”

Luna was silent. Going home meant they had to face reality. Going home meant they had to begin their plans, whatever that was going to look like.

Luna grabbed his hand, squeezing it. “I love you,” she told him.

“I love you too, always.”

They changed into some comfortable clothes they had packed, not bothering with breakfast and not wanting to wait another moment longer.

When they finally took off, the sky was dark and gray—mean looking. The temperature had fallen to freezing, seeping into Luna’s soul. She held onto Valerio the entire time, selfishly trying to steal his warmth from him.

They pulled into the garage of the house in no time, sitting there for some time before they decided to finally get out of the car. “We have to clean up the house,” Luna said.

“It’ll be okay for a couple of days.”

“Maybe we can put everything into a box to save it,” she suggested. “And get the pictures printed so we can hang them up.”

“Anything you want to do,” he said. Valerio cupped her cheek, bringing her closer. “We’ll be okay.”

She knew he could see right through her. She wanted to appear strong and brave, having been the one to command everyone and tell them they needed to get rid of their fathers. Now, when the moment was fast approaching, Luna felt weak. She desperately searched for any ounce of strength she could muster up, but it seemed useless.

There was a fear that she couldn’t get rid of. One that kept reminding her of everything that could go wrong—of everything she had to lose.

Instead of voicing it, she gave him a kiss, memorizing the feel of it into her mind. If he promised they would be okay, then she had to believe that they would be. With that, she opened the car door and got out. Luna carried in the dress while Valerio carried their bag. “I’ll make us some breakfast,” he said.

She nodded. “I’m going to put my dress upstairs.”

Luna climbed up the stairs, taking in the silence of the house. It seemed like everyone was still sleeping, most likely hungover and oblivious to the ominous feeling that surrounded the air now.

She opened the door to the closet and grabbed the same hook that had held her dress yesterday. She would have to send the dress to get dry cleaned, but that could probably wait as could all the things she actually wanted to do. Her list of to-do items grew longer and longer, but she desperately tried not to overwhelm herself.

Her phone rang, pulling her out of her thoughts. Luna took it out of her pocket but didn’t recognize the number. She answered, wondering if it was any of the companies from yesterday contacting her about something.

“Hello?” Luna asked, answering the call.

“Luna?” the soft feminine voice asked, unsure if she had the right number.

It was her mother.

“Mom?” Luna asked. “Why are you calling me off a different number?”

“I didn’t know if you had me blocked or something. I’ve been trying to call you,” Eleanora said. Her voice was unusually kind. Similar to the voice she’d used when she would comfort Luna as a child. It was rare, but it did happen.

“I’ve been busy,” she said, lying.

“Oh. Well, how have you been feeling?”

Luna closed her eyes, suddenly feeling immensely guilty for carrying out the lie. “I haven’t been good.”

“Why is that? Have you seen a doctor?” Eleanora asked, her voice sounding like she was actually worried. Luna couldn’t remember a time her mother cared this much about anything.

“No, I haven’t needed to,” Luna told her. “There’s no baby.”

She chose to rip off the Band-Aid and tell the truth. Maybe it was risky to tell the truth, but lies would only do so much. Even if her mother decided to run back to Luna’s father and tell him everything, they would handle it. At least she wouldn’t be carrying the sick lie with her anymore.

It was silent on the other line, so much so that Luna thought her mother hung up until she heard a deep breath. “Did your father cause this? With what he said at the engagement party?”

---