Page 62 of Downfall

Whatever I ultimately decide to do in terms of delivering her particular slice of justice I won’t have anyone getting in the way.

“I have an errand for you.” I state.

He bristles. “The funeral is in two days.”

“I don’t care.” I want him to focus on the bigger picture, the fact that I have the power here, that I say jump and he does it without hesitation, without any freewill to do otherwise. “If you’re a good boy you’ll get it done in plenty of time.” I say handing him the envelope.

He snatches it, opens it and shakes his head. “I can’t miss the funeral…”

“Then get it done.” I say dismissively.

His eyes flash. He clearly wants to retort and a part of me wants him to. I want to smack him down, to prove that I’m not empty words, that behind them I’m more than willing to get my hands dirty. I’m more than willing to have every street in Verona pouring forth with blood if that’s what it takes.

He storms away as I watch.

Once the car door is slammed his driver nods his head, just a little, his eyes on me. Yeah I bought him too. I own every man in Darius’s immediate circle though the stupid fucker doesn’t have a clue. Not that I’d care if he did. I have eyes on him at all times, and if he so much as thinks of crossing the line I’ll cut him down like the dog he is and it feels like he’s finally realising it.

Roman

She’s slunk back into the shadows. The papers have run article after article about her because apparently this entire city is more in love with her than ever.

More flowers adorn the pavement. So much so they’ve had to close the street. She doesn’t come out. She hides inside and only her mother seems to visit. Her father is apparently too angry to show his face.

Today is the funeral. Another funeral. If this place didn’t glitter with so much gold I’d say it was cursed.

She’s up early. No doubt practising her grieving widow look.

I stay as long as I can, watching from my vantage point as she moves more like a ghost than a person through the emptiness of the space around her.

I know I should stay home. I even lied to Ben that I would. Lied to my sister too.

But I can’t. I have to see this. To witness this.

Afterall, I was the one to create this moment, I deserve to revel in it, to feel every second of it as it unravels.

I hide amongst the crowd, wearing a disguise of sorts, though in truth I doubt the average person would recognise me. They seem to have forgotten I exist so why would my face help remind them?

I watch as the procession goes by. It’s funny that I shied away from my own father’s and yet here I am watching as Paris Blumenfeld’s coffin rolls past like he’s some fallen knight. Like he’s some great fucking saint being laid to rest.

Everyone knows his secret. Everyone knows what he is and yet still they fawn over him, still they pretend.

Behind his coffin is Darius. Just as expected. But Rose isn’t there. She’s not walking. She’s not stood in the place where a grieving wife should be.

I guess that should tell me something. Only it doesn’t. Rose is nothing if not an expert in societal behaviour. I doubt she’s ever publicly taken a misstep in her life so where the fuck is she?

I look around. I’m right outside the Cathedral having waited here in this crowd for hours expecting to see her lithe form walking, just as my sister did barely a month ago.

Only the bitch isn’t here.

Around me is murmuring. Speculation. It’s clearly been noted that the grieving widow is distinctly absent from her duties.

And then the cars start to arrive. One after another. Dozens of them. Filled with Capulets and Blumenfelds. Amongst them is my sister. Though she’s playing a part, Montagues had to be here too, this is the Governor’s nephew after all, despite his connection to our enemy.

All the big names gather outside. Waiting. Talking. While the coffin is still there, on the carriage, half forgotten.

And then a final car arrives. I hold my breath without meaning to because I know it’s her. She’s got her hair pulled back, a black veil obscures her face but Christ is she still breathtakingly stunning even in this moment.

My heart thumps in my chest. The entire crowd falls silent as Darius steps up to the car, opens the door, and offers his hand.

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